title: Multiple oral ulcers leading to diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.
abstract: We report a 47 year old man who presented with painful non-healing tongue ulcers of 3 months duration. Examination revealed an additional buccal ulcer that he was unaware of. Histopathology of the ulcers showed caseation necrosis. Following this report, chest radiography and sputum microscopy performed revealed pulmonary tuberculosis. From this case-study, one should be aware of coexisting pulmonary tuberculosis in patients with chronic non-healing oral ulcers, both for diagnosis as well as prevention of transmission through respiratory droplets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute Complex, Pilaiyarkuppam, Pondicherry, India.
authors.forename: Vezhavendhan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nagaraj
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute Complex, Pilaiyarkuppam, Pondicherry, India.
authors.forename: Shanthi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sashykumar
authors.affiliation: Department of General Medicine, Indira Gandhi Medical College and RI, Kathirkamam, Pondicherry - 605 009, India.
authors.forename: Stalin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Viswanathan
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute Complex, Pilaiyarkuppam, Pondicherry, India.
authors.forename: Sathish
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
keywords: Oral cavity tuberculosis; oral ulcers; tongue tuberculosis