Medical Journal of The Islamic Republic of Iran (MJIRI)

Chronic sialadenitis is a disease of salivary glands associated with chronic infections,

systemic diseases and silolithiasis pathogenesis of the disease. Primary tuberculous

submandibulitis is not a reported disease. The diagnosis was confirmed when

a 45 years old lady suspicious to submandibular gland tumor was operated on for excisional

biopsy. Histological examination of the specimen by expert pathologist

ruled out malignancy, granuloma or caseous necrosis. Cultures of discharge and tissue

were negative for mycobacterium tuberculosis. The only positive diagnostic

modality was Polymerase Chain Reaction for mycobacterium tuberculosis. Therefore,

the four drug anti-TB regimen was initiated. After that a surgical fistula was

healed and the patient left the hospital on her foot and there was no recurrence at least

for one year. The endemic condition of tuberculosis in some populations has increased

the rate of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis. One of the extra pulmonary sites

may be the submandibular gland.

It is recommended to consider tuberculosis in the differential diagnosis of submandibular

gland masses especially in populations with endemic tuberculosis.