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.
