title: Case series of extra pulmonary tuberculosis presenting as facial swelling.
abstract: In England there were 7,290 cases of tuberculosis (TB) reported in 2013. The area with the highest incidence of the disease in England is London, with hotspots in other urban areas. TB affecting the head and neck is rare. We present three such cases of TB presenting as pre-auricular swelling. Two of the patients were initially misdiagnosed as having dental infection, demonstrating the importance of taking a good history and considering the differential diagnosis of TB when appropriate. TB remains a potentially fatal disease that should be considered in patients presenting with facial swelling where common causes have been excluded.
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Whipps Cross University Hospital, Leytonstone, London, E11 1NR.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Whipps Cross University Hospital, Leytonstone, London, E11 1NR.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chandarana
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Whipps Cross University Hospital, Leytonstone, London, E11 1NR.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Duggineni
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Whipps Cross University Hospital, Leytonstone, London, E11 1NR.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nasser
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Whipps Cross University Hospital, Leytonstone, London, E11 1NR.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bridle
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004487:Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055815:Young Adult