Tuberculous Osteomyelitis of the Mandible

Although tuberculosis can affect any part of the body involving both soft and hard structures with variable measures; such an occurrence in the cranio-facial bones is relatively rare. Once affecting a bone it is rare for a mycobacterial infection to get directed towards the skin and present as multiple draining sinuses. We report a case of tubercular osteomyelitis of the left body of the mandible in a 19 year old male patient who came to us with complains of persisting pus discharge from multiple sinuses on his face (lateral border of mandible and submandibular region) because of its rarity and clinical interest. One should always have a suspicion of mycobacterial infection in the back of mind when dealing with chronic maxillofacial infections not responding to the usual antibiotic course and local debridement.