Oral tuberculosis (TB) remains a rare extrapulmonary manifestation—accounting for fewer than 1% of all TB cases—and frequently misleads clinicians because its lesions closely mimic common inflammatory, autoimmune, and neoplastic conditions.
In a compelling case series published in the Journal of Indonesian Oral Medicine Society (Vol. 3, No. 1, 2026), Paramita and Wulandari examine four intricate cases from Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, Jakarta. This report highlights how atypical oral presentations—ranging from granulomatous gingival enlargement and destructive periodontal disease to palatal and multifocal mucosal ulcerations—served as the primary presenting feature of underlying pulmonary TB, remarkably in the complete absence of overt respiratory symptoms in three patients.
These findings underscore the vital frontline role of oral medicine specialists and dental practitioners in detecting systemic infections early. Read the full case series to explore critical clinical red flags, diagnostic pathways, and the essential necessity of thoracic imaging and interdisciplinary management for treatment-resistant oral lesions.
