Prevalence of granulomatous lesions in minor salivary gland biopsy in a case series of 65 patients with tuberculosis

Purpose. - The distinction between tuberculosis (TB), a worldwide infectious granulomatosis requiring specific antibiotic therapy, and sarcoidosis, a rare granulomatous disease that may require corticosteroids is not straightforward and may result in diagnostic and therapeutic delay. Methods. - W We prospectively and consecutively evaluated the presence of epithelioid granulomas in minor salivary gland biopsy of 65 consecutive patients with TB. Results. - In our study, 10.8 % of our TB patients had epithelioid granulomas without caseous necrosis identified in their minor salivary gland biopsy, regardless of the location of TB, HIV status and whether or not the sputum examination was positive for tuberculous bacilli. Conclusion. - The presence of epithelioid granulomas in minor salivary gland biopsy may not be helpful to the clinician to rule out TB in a patient with suspected sarcoidosis. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS on behalf of the Societe nationale francaise de medecine interne (SNFMI).