Tuberculous Lymphadenitis in Maxillofacial Area – a Case Report Volume 7 - Issue 5

Bistra Blagova¹*, Lina Malinova² and Vesela Ivanova³

• ¹Maxillofacial Surgery Division, University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment and Emergency Medicine, Bulgaria
• ²Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Medical University of Sofia, Bulgaria
• ³Department of General and Clinical Pathology, Medical University of Sofia, Bulgaria

Received: May 12, 2022;   Published: May 24, 2022

*Corresponding author: Bistra Blagova, DDS, DMD, Maxillofacial Surgery Division, University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment and Emergency Medicine NI Pirogov, Gen Totleben Blvd 21, 1606 Sofia, Bulgaria

DOI: 10.32474/IPDOAJ.2022.07.000271

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Abstract

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TBC) is usually a chronic pulmonary disease with a high prevalence in developing countries, which carries a significant mortality rate. Lymph node involvement remains the most common extrapulmonary involvement of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, the clinical picture of TBC in the head and neck area can be varied and often misleading.

Case report: We present a 13-year-old female with diffuse hard painful submandibular swelling with intact skin that develops gradually over a week. She presented with misdiagnosis and poor initial dental treatment. The patient was diagnosed with right submandibular TBC lymphadenitis based on histopathological report and confirmed by a positive QuantiFERON TB test.

Conclusion: TBC of the head and neck is not such a rare disease. Although it has harmful local and systemic effects and is devoid of characteristic clinical and radiographic features, it is a diagnostic challenge. As early diagnosis with timely treatment can thwart complications, it is therefore important that clinicians are aware of the condition and take it into account in their differential diagnosis.

Keywords: Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG); lymphadenitis; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; QuantiFERON TBC Test; tuberculosis (TBC)

Abstract| Introduction| Case Report| Discussion | Conclusion References |