TUBERCULOSIS OF THE ORAL CAVITY: CASE REPORT

Tuberculosis is a serious public health problem that, despite its decreasing incidence rate, still presents high mortality. It is a bacterial infection transmitted through the air, caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium that affects the lungs, and can remain latent or evolve to the disease state, spreading later to other parts of the body. This study exemplifies the case of a 57-year-old white man, a bookseller, smoker, and resident in an area without basic sanitation, who had white plaques mixed with erythematous areas in oropharynx with a 5-month evolution, difficulty in swallowing, and episodes of night fever. Histopathologically, a granulomatous inflammatory process was observed showing areas of necrosis and pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia. The periodic acid–Schiff and Grocott stains were negative, and the Ziehl-Nielsen staining showed Epstein-Barr presence. The patient was referred for treatment.