Dual Pathological Entities: Co-existence of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Tuberculous Lymphadenitis

Abstract The co-existence of tuberculous (TB) lymphadenitis and Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in the oral cavity is rare, and only a limited number of case reports can be found in the literature. TB and OSCC are both major global health problems responsible for millions of deaths each year. Regardless of this, the basic pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical importance of their co-existence have not been fully addressed in the literature to date. Diagnosis of TB lymphadenitis requires a high level of clinical suspicion because its clinical presentation and pathological features often overlap and can be indistinguishable from various other conditions, including malignancies like OSCC and other infectious or inflammatory diseases. This overlap frequently leads to delayed or misdiagnosis. One of the most common forms of extrapulmonary disease is cervical lymph node tuberculosis. We report a unique and rare case of the simultaneous existence of OSCC and tuberculous lymphadenitis in a 50-year-old male patient. This report signifies the epidemiology, clinical presentation, and diagnostic modalities for ruling out tuberculous lymphadenitis in association with OSCC.