Primary Gingival Tuberculosis: A Rare Case report

Abstract

Tuberculosis is the most common cause of chronic granulomatous inflammation in India. Tuberculosis of the oral cavity is usually secondary to the primary foci of tuberculosis present anywhere else in the body. Primary isolated gingival tuberculosis is extremely rare. We present a case of a 20-year-old Indian female patient manifested with symptoms of gingivitis. The diagnosis was reached through positive histopathological features and was confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction. There was no evidence showing the presence of tuberculosis elsewhere in the body. This case report accentuates the need to include tuberculosis as a differential diagnosis of gingival enlargement and also emphasizes the role of the dentist in the early diagnosis of such a rare entity. Key Words Gingiva, Chronic granulomatous inflammation, Polymerase chain reaction, Primary tuberculosis,