title: Primary tuberculosis of the TMJ: presentation of a case and literature review.
abstract: Tuberculosis (TB) is a frequent health problem. The prevalence of extrapulmonary TB has increased in the last couple of years. Head and neck tuberculosis forms nearly 10% of all extrapulmonary manifestations of the disease. TB of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is rare; only a few cases have been reported. The clinical appearance of TB infection of the TMJ has been described as unspecific, resembling arthritis, osteomyelitis, cancer or any kind of chronic joint diseases. This article describes a 22-year-old woman with pain and left preauricular swelling. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography showed an expansive process with destruction of the left condyle and condylar fossa. A fine needle aspiration examination of the swelling showed non-specific granulomatous inflammation. In the following days, a preauricular fistula developed, of which a swab and biopsy specimens were taken. Histological and microbiological examinations revealed an infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The initial antituberculosis treatment consisted of a combination of four antibiotics and could be reduced to two antibiotics in the course of treatment. The treatment was completed successfully after 9 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Luzerner Kantonsspital, Switzerland. cornelia.helbling@ksl.ch
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Helbling
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lieger
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Smolka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iizuka
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kuttenberger
mesh_terms: D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004977:Ethambutol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D011718:Pyrazinamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014394:Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D011718:Pyrazinamide; D004977:Ethambutol; D007538:Isoniazid; D012293:Rifampin