Tuberculosis of the tongue is one of rare lesions caused by tubercle bacillus.
Tuberculosis of the tongue has been reported mostly as secondary tuberculosis of the tongue. Rarely, however, it has also been found as "so-called" primary tuberculosis of the tongue.
Since Morgagni reported the first case of tongue tuberculosis in 1761, about 500 cases were reported, but few cases in Korea.
Tuberculous lesion in tongue does not show, any characteristic clinical manifestation and can be differentiated from other chronic infective granulomatous or neoplastic lesion by histopathological examination. The type of lesion usually seen are ulcer, fissure, granuloma, tuberculoma and glossitis.
Author experienced a case of secondary tuberculosis of the tongue, which was relatively good response to antituberculous therapy.
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