Oral ulcer: an uncommon site in primary tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease and a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It can affect any part of the body, including the oral cavity. Oral lesions of tuberculosis, though uncommon, have been observed in both primary and secondary stages of the disease. This article presents a case of primary tuberculosis manifested as a non-healing, tender ulcer on the lingual mucosa of the edentulous right mandibular arch molar zone, an uncommon site. The diagnosis was confirmed after histopathology examination, polymerase chain reaction and purified protein derivative tests and chest radiograph. A recommended treatment plan of six months with four anti-tuberculotic antibiotics was commenced. Clinically, the oral ulcer disappeared three months after the commencement of treatment. The resurgence of tuberculosis should compel clinicians to include the disease in the differential diagnosis of various types of non-healing oral ulcers.

Five mandibular incisors: an autosomal recessive trait?

A fifth mandibular incisor is a eumorphic supernumerary tooth and has rarely been described in the medical literature. We report here a large Lebanese consanguineous family where four individuals displayed five incisors in the anterior mandible. Such familial observation has not been previously described. The possibility of an autosomal recessive inheritance for this nonsyndromic trait is discussed.