Lingual tuberculosis: a rare disease in Western countries

New Microbiol. 2012 Apr;35(2):233-7. Epub 2012 Mar 31.

Abstract

Here we report on two consecutive cases of tuberculosis in immunocompetent HIV-negative patients with lingual lesions. In both patients diagnosis was delayed. Disease progressed involving the lungs, lymph nodes and also the brain. Both patients are disease-free at 30 and 22 month follow-up respectively. Isolated Mycobacterium tuberculosis from these patients was multi-susceptible. Tuberculosis lesions of the oral cavity and brain are infrequently diagnosed in immunocompetent subjects from Western countries. Clinicians must take into greater consideration tuberculosis as a possible diagnosis when diagnosing chronic and/or recurrent lingual lesions even in the absence of pulmonary lesions.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / isolation & purification*
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / physiology
  • Rare Diseases / diagnosis
  • Rare Diseases / microbiology*
  • Tongue / microbiology*
  • Tongue Diseases / diagnosis
  • Tongue Diseases / microbiology*
  • Tuberculosis, Oral / diagnosis
  • Tuberculosis, Oral / microbiology*