EXTRAPULMONARY tuberculous lesions are found in 10% to 15% of chronic pulmonary cases in the United States, and the oral cavity is involved in less than 1% of these cases.1 In the mouth, lesions occur most frequently in the following order: (1) tongue tip, (2) tongue border and floor of mouth, (3) soft palate, (4) anterior tonsillar pillar and uvula, (5) dorsum and base of tongue. Tonsillar lesions have been reported to occur in 15% of minimal pulmonary lesions and in 57% of advanced pulmonary lesions, but the tonsillar lesions rarely ulcerate or become significant clinically.2,3
Prior to the introduction of streptomycin and other antituberculous drugs in the 1940's, the tongue was involved with tuberculous lesions more frequently than any other organ of the oral cavity.3-5 The types of lesions usually seen were ulcers, fissures, granulomas, tuberculomas, and glossitis. Ulcerations were by far the most frequent