Key Points
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The incidence of tuberculosis is on the increase in the UK
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Tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of chronic joint disease
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The clinical appearance of tuberculosis of the temporomandibular joint is similar to that of ordinary arthritis of this joint and is unlikely to be diagnosed
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Granulomas are encountered in relatively few pathologic states, tuberculosis being the archetypal granulomatous disease
Abstract
Primary tuberculosis is symptomless in the great majority of individuals. The clinical appearance of tuberculosis (TB) of the temporomandibular joint is similar to that of ordinary arthritis of this joint and so, is unlikely to be diagnosed early in non-destructive disease, especially when there are no symptoms and signs of TB elsewhere in the body. The role of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other opportunistic organisms should not be overlooked in complicated head and neck infections as this is an ever increasing problem today, especially due to the emergence of multi-drug resistant strains of tuberculosis in some urban areas.
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Soman, D., Davies, S. A suspected case of tuberculosis of the temporomandibular joint. Br Dent J 194, 23–24 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.4802406
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.4802406
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