Although tuberculosis of tongue has been previously reported, its infr
equent clinical presentation and increased chance of being overlooked
during routine examination of the oral cavity, make it worthy of docum
entation. Lingual tuberculosis is usually associated with tuberculosis
of the oropharynx, lungs, lymph nodes, and miliary tuberculosis. Prim
ary tuberculosis of the tongue is extremely rare and is seldom reporte
d. Early diagnosis of tuberculosis elsewhere in body and its effective
treatment by antituberculous drugs may be the reason for its uncommon
presentation. The relationship between consumption of raw or unboiled
milk and tuberculosis of the tongue is ill-understood and has evident
ly not been reported. We take this opportunity to present the first ca
se of primary lingual tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium bovis relat
ed to consumption of unboiled cow milk.