title: Atypical presentation of oral tuberculosis ulcer.
abstract: Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease that can affect any part of the body, including the mouth. An upsurge in the number of tuberculosis cases, with a strong association with HIV infection, has been noted. We present a case of tuberculosis that clinically resembles a malignant chronic ulcer in the retromolar trigone-an uncommon site of occurrence. Histologically, the case demonstrated an atypical epitheloid granuloma with reduced lymphocyte count. The diagnosis of tuberculosis was confirmed following sputum culture of M tuberculosis. Antitubercular therapy improved the patient's condition. Although rare, tuberculosis must be considered as a differential diagnosis in chronic ulcers in the oral region; and its association with HIV must not be overlooked.
authors.forename: Sumita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mahajan
authors.forename: Natarajan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Srikant
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: George
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006099:Granuloma / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019226:Oral Ulcer / Q000209:etiology*; D014393:Tuberculosis, Oral / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*