Abstract
Primary tuberculous osteomyelitis involving the mandible represents less than 2% of
skeletal locations. In this paper, we report a case of mandibular tuberculosis (TB)
detected after histopathological analysis of the surgically resected specimen during
surgical management of a suspected case of ameloblastoma. A 14-year-old male patient
presented to us with history of right-sided chin swelling. The clinical examination
revealed a swelling, involving right body and parasymphysis of mandible, measuring
approximately 6 cm in length and 2 cm in width, extending from right lateral incisor
till the first molar. Radiological scans revealed a large multiloculated osteolytic
expansive lesion measuring 52 × 20 × 18 mm. Excision of the lesion was performed and
reconstruction was done with iliac bone grafting. The histopathological findings revealed
a granulomatous lesion, suggestive of tuberculous osteomyelitis. The patient was successfully
treated with standard multidrug therapy. One year after completion of therapy, there
were no signs of recurrence. Primary mandibular TB is an extremely rare entity. Its
clinical presentation is not specific. Radiologically, TB has no characteristic appearance.
The positive diagnosis is based on histology. Primary mandibular TB is rare and should
be kept among differential diagnoses in susceptible population and in endemic areas.
Keywords
mandible - osteomyelitis - tuberculosis
