Tuberculous glossitis - a rare extrapulmonary localization

Tuberculous glossitis is very rare, even in countries with a high tuberculosis burden. The tongue is the most frequent lesion in the structure of oral forms, the frequency of which does not exceed 0.1%. Allocate sputtogenic and hematogenous pathways of infection. The protective function of saliva, due to enzymes and antibodies in its composition, the pH of the oral cavity, the peculiarities of the blood supply, the presence of variable saprophytic microflora, a small number of lymphoid follicles, complicates the inoculation of mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, defects of the mucous membrane due to trauma, invasive interventions and chronic nonspecific inflammation in the oral cavity create favorable conditions for the vital activity of the pathogen. Analyzed 38 clinical cases of tuberculous glossitis from foreign practice, presented their brief description. The issue of timely detection and differential diagnosis of tuberculous glossitis is relevant in the practice of doctors of various profiles. Any lesion of the tongue should be carefully investigated, diagnostics should include laboratory, histological and radiation methods.