Primary Tubercular Abscess of the Axilla—a Rare Case

Tuberculosis can be broadly classified as pulmonary and extrapulmonary. Though pulmonary tuberculosis is the most common presentation, extrapulmonary tuberculosis is also an important entity. A tubercular cold abscess secondary to involvement of an adjacent bone or suppuration of lymph nodes is a well-known entity; however, a primary cold abscess is rare. We report a case of a young girl who presented with an axillary swelling which turned out to be a primary tubercular abscess of the axilla. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a primary tubercular abscess presenting in the axilla. A primary tubercular abscess, though rare, should be considered as a possible diagnosis in appropriate clinical settings backed by evidence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in form of AFB microscopy, L-J culture, BACTEC culture, or PCR test.     

Cranial-epidural tuberculosis presenting as a scalp swelling

BACKGROUND: Unlike the brain tuberculoma, tubercular osteomyelitis of the skull is very rare and not sufficiently described in the literature. Awareness of this entity makes diagnosis possible. CASE DESCRIPTIONS: Two unique cases of cranial and epidural tuberculosis (TB) with absence of intradural and brain involvement are presented. Both patients presented with scalp swellings but extending through the calvarium into the epidural space. Histologic/bacteriologic confirmation of tuberculosis was obtained from biopsy specimens. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of this rare lesion are described for the first time. CONCLUSIONS: Inflammatory scalp lesions with skull involvement and epidural extension should be investigated for tuberculous etiology. With early diagnosis and a combination of surgical and medical management, all cases of skull tuberculosis are potentially curable.     

Current concepts in the diagnosis and management of tuberculosis of the elbow joint

Elbow is an uncommon joint to be affected by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. It is involved in approximately 1–5% of all cases with musculoskeletal tuberculosis (TB). Early diagnosis of TB of the elbow joint can be easily missed due to an indolent natural history, delay in presentation, and varied clinical features. Delay in diagnosis can lead to irreversible osteoarticular destruction and loss of joint function. Careful clinical assessment, adequate imaging, microbiological, and/or histopathological confirmation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection is essential for early diagnosis of TB of the elbow joint. Judicious and early administration of anti-tubercular therapy can lead to preservation of the joint and a satisfactory functional outcome. Surgical intervention may be needed in later stages of the disease to achieve control of the infection, correction of deformity, instability, and restoration of function.     

Insidious destruction of the hip by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and why early diagnosis is critical

Tuberculosis has re-emerged as an important problem in the United States. More than 10 million people presently are infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the United States alone. The symptoms at first presentation of the disease have become more diverse. With extrapulmonary manifestations, such as musculoskeletal infections, as the sole presenting sign, it often can be difficult to determine the correct diagnosis early in the course of the disease. The presenting symptoms, physical signs, and radiographic findings of intra-articular tuberculosis can mimic those of other intra-articular diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and avascular necrosis. In view of the nonspecific findings early in course of the disease, tubercular infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis when there is insidious articular destruction. Failure to consider tuberculosis can lead to devastating outcomes otherwise preventable with today's chemotherapies.     

Primary Musculoskeletal Mycobacterium Infection With Large Cystic Masses After Total Hip Arthroplasty

Primary mycobacterial infections in the musculoskeletal system are rare with a limited number of published case reports. This report describes a case involving a primary musculoskeletal tuberculous abscess. A 62-year-old male patient who had a right total hip arthroplasty performed 8 years earlier, using metal-on-metal articulation presented with a 1-year history of non-tender masses on his right thigh. Initially, it was assumed he had metallosis. Intraoperatively, an incision into the mass was conducted which resulted in draining of a whitish-grey pus like fluid. A diagnosis of tuberculosis was confirmed with both microscopic and histological examination. The patient was treated over a course of six months with an anti-tuberculosis medication regimen following the confirmation of a solitary soft tissue tuberculosis infection. At the 24 month follow-up, the patient was asymptomatic with no relapse of the mass.     

Pleuropneumonectomy for pulmonary tuberculosis and chronic tuberculous empyema

Surgical intervention is often necessary to treat either the active pulmonary tuberculosis or its sequelae such as destroyed lung, tuberculous empyema, and bronchial stenosis. Pleuropneumonectomy, which has been reported to be associated with high mortality and morbidity, is performed when the pleural space is completely obliterated due to previous inflammation or when preoperative empyema is complicated. In this article we report 3 patients receiving pleuropneumonectomy for pulmonary tuberculosis or chronic tuberculous empyema in recent 3 years. The mean operation time is 5 hours and 56 minutes, and the mean volume of intraoperative bleeding amounted to 1,417 ml. Autologous blood transfusion was prepared for all 3 patients and transfused them during the operation. No mortality, but postoperative complications were seen in 2 patients (67%) with a history of diabetes mellitus. They were sternum infection and bronchopleural fistula, which were successfully treated conservatively. Diabetes mellitus is thought to be a major risk factor for not only tuberculous disease itself, but also postoperative morbidity. As for surgical techniques, wide skin incision with multiple thoracotomy is necessary to keep a good operative field, and special care must be taken for great vessels and nerves at extrapleural dissection. We conclude that pleuropneumonectomy is relatively risky but effective surgical procedure for adequately selected patients with destroyed lung and tuberculous empyema.     

Duodenal tuberculosis: a review of the clinicopathologic features and management of twelve cases

A retrospective analysis of twelve cases of duodenal tuberculosis is presented herein. The average age of the patients was 31.4 years with a male to female ratio of 2:1. The presenting complaints were duodenal obstruction in six patients and subacute intestinal obstruction in three. None of the patients had associated pulmonary tuberculosis. Eight patients had isolated duodenal tuberculosis, two of whom were successfully treated with antitubercular drugs. In four patients, the diagnosis was established at laparotomy by the presence of tubercles over the duodenum. Five patients required a bypass procedure for obstruction caused by the duodenal tuberculosis and one patient was operated on for uncontrollable bleeding from a tubercular duodenal ulcer. All patients remained symptom free after treatment, whether medical or surgical. Thus, in areas where tuberculosis is endemic, even in the absence of pulmonary tuberculosis, duodenal tuberculosis should be suspected in patients with upper gastrointestinal obstruction or in patients with peptic ulcer like symptoms not responding to medical therapy.     

Chronic hypercalcemia as the presenting feature of tuberculous peritonitis in a hemodialysis patient

Hypercalcemia is a common electrolyte disturbance in chronic dialysis patients. Although most causes are easily identified, some are obscure. Tuberculosis, a granulomatous disease associated with hypercalcemia, can appear at anytime while the infection is active. Dialysis-associated tuberculosis is characterized by a higher risk than that in the general population, with a greater chance of extrapulmonary involvement and a high mortality rate. If the presentation of tuberculosis is atypical and its manifestation nonspecific, diagnosis can be delayed, leading to poor patient outcome. Herein, we report a case of tuberculous peritonitis in a hemodialysis patient. Asymptomatic hypercalcemia was noted 8 months before ascites became detectable. Nevertheless, the patient responded well to antituberculous therapy. We conclude that hypercalcemia can be an early sign of tuberculous peritonitis in the absence of other signs and symptoms. Remaining aware of the possibility of tuberculosis and testing for it, physicians can identify tuberculous infection earlier and initiate appropriate therapy in a timely manner.     

Duodenal tuberculosis: A review of the clinicopathologic features and management of twelve cases

A retrospective analysis of twelve cases of duodenal tuberculosis is presented herein. The average age of the patients was 31.4 years with a male to female ratio of 2:1. The presenting complaints were duodenal obstruction in six patients and subacute intestinal obstruction in three. None of the patients had associated pulmonary tuberculosis. Eight patients had isolated duodenal tuberculosis, two of whom were successfully treated with antitubercular drugs. In four patients, the diagnosis was established at laparotomy by the presence of tubercles over the duodenum. Five patients required a bypass procedure for obstruction caused by the duodenal tuberculosis and one patient was operated on for uncontrollable bleeding from a tubercular duodenal ulcer. All patients remained symptom free after treatment, whether medical or surgical. Thus, in areas where tuberculosis is endemic, even in the absence of pulmonary tuberculosis, duodenal tuberculosis should be suspected in patients with upper gastrointestinal obstruction or in patients with peptic ulcer like symptoms not responding to medical therapy     

Congenital spinal tuberculosis associated with asymptomatic endometrial tuberculosis: A rare case report

Spinal tuberculosis constitutes 50% of all musculoskeletal tuberculosis. However, literature regarding congenital spinal tuberculosis is very scanty. Congenital spinal tuberculosis was diagnosed in a two-month-old child on the basis of age at presentation (gibbus since three weeks of age), hepatomegaly, raised ESR, radiological destruction of D10-D11 vertebrae, asymptomatic maternal endometrial tuberculosis and tuberculous histopathology from CT guided biopsy specimen from D10 vertebra. Both child and mother were treated by antitubercular treatment. Child improved symptomatically, gibbus became less prominent and ESR became normal at the end of one year of treatment. Patient had no recurrence during last two years of follow-up. This is the first case of congenital tuberculosis of spine with a documented source of infection from asymptomatic maternal endometrial tuberculosis. CT guided core biopsy from vertebra/aspiration from the paravertebral abscess help in early diagnosis and treatment to reduce neurological morbidity and mortality. Endometrial biopsy help in establishing the diagnosis of congenital tuberculosis and adequate antitubercular treatment in such cases may provide protection to fetus in subsequent pregnancy.     

Elbow tuberculosis: an unusual location and diagnostic problem

Tuberculous arthritis of the elbow joint is not commonly seen by orthopaedic physicians. In the past 20 years, with the pandemic of the human immunodeficiency virus and the increase in immunocompromised people, we have observed a resurgence of tuberculosis. Osteoarticular involvement has increased, too. Spinal and monoarthritis of weight-bearing joints such as the hip or knee are most frequently involved. The elbow joint is an uncommon location of osteoarticular tuberculosis. The aim of this case report is to describe a case of tuberculous arthritis of the elbow and the diagnostic problems that may arise and lead to a delay in treatment.     

Total hip replacement infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. A case report with review of literature

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis infection of a total joint prosthesis in patients with previous pulmonary or osteoarticular tuberculosis is well recorded in literature. We describe the case of a 59-year-old woman with tuberculous infection complicating a total hip arthroplasty 15 months after surgery for osteoarthritis. The patient had no prior history of exposure to tuberculosis and no evidence of pulmonary or osteoarticular tuberculosis. She was treated with four-drug antituberculous chemotherapy for 12 months with retention of the prosthesis. The purpose of this case report and literature review is to highlight to the Western Orthopaedic surgeon the importance of keeping in mind a differential diagnosis of tuberculosis while dealing with prosthetic joint infections. The infection of a joint with Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in patients without previous tuberculosis is very uncommon. We have reviewed the surgical and medical management of the cases reported in literature.     

单纯性附睾结核的诊治分析

目的:提高对单纯性附睾结核的诊治水平。方法:在35例附睾结核患者中通过尿路影像学检查无肾结核及尿抗酸杆菌检测阴性者,定义为单纯性附睾结核20例进行回顾性分析,均行强化抗结核治疗,即异烟肼(INH)、利福平(RFP)、链霉素(SM)或乙胺丁醇(EB)联合用药,2周后行病灶切除术,术中均行附睾结核病灶清除,术后继续常规抗结核治疗6～9个月。结果:随访6个月～5年,16例无异常情况,3例分别于术后3、3.5、5年出现泌尿系结核感染,1例于术后3.5年出现对侧附睾结核。结论:单纯性附睾结核可能为唯一或早期泌尿生殖系结核首发的表现,及时手术治疗,预后较好。     

Polymerase chain reaction for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in synovial fluid, tissue samples, bone marrow aspirate and peripheral blood

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis accounts for approximately 10% of tuberculous infections; the musculoskeletal system is involved in a small number of these (10%). Skeletal tuberculosis is an indolent disease, and diagnosis may be delayed. Conventional methods are time consuming and have a low sensitivity rate. In recent years PCR-based protocols raised hopes as a reliable and fast diagnostic tool for extrapulmonary tuberculosis. The authors report the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex DNA in specimens from six patients using a nested PCR protocol specific for IS6110 insertion element of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Three men and three women are reported with ages ranging from 42 to 68 years. The sites of infection were the knee and shoulder in one case each, the hip in two cases, and the thoracic spine in two cases. Diagnosis was established within three days, and treatment was initiated promptly. PCR is a technically easy approach that can be used as a first step diagnostic tool for early recognition and treatment of bone and joint tuberculosis.     

A rare presentation of necrotising fasciitis and myositis with femoral head necrosis and gas in the femur

Necrotising fasciitis is a rapidly progressive, polymicrobial synergistic soft tissue infection that spreads along fascial planes beneath seemingly normal skin. The relatively benign appearance of the extremity is misleading and often results in delay in diagnosis and increased morbidity or death. Involvement of bone is not a recognised feature. Successful management requires early detection, radical surgical debridement and broad spectrum intravenous antibiotics. We report an unusual case of necrotising fasciitis in a 61-year-old male who presented with musculoskeletal symptoms and gas within the femoral head as well as surrounding soft tissues. This resulted in necrosis of the femoral head with the development of chronic osteomyelitis, requiring long-term antibiotics and ultimately proximal femoral excision. We describe a previously unreported presentation of this condition with musculoskeletal involvement and discuss the potential pitfalls in delayed diagnosis.     

Diagnostic dilemma of tuberculosis in the foot and ankle

BACKGROUND: Isolated involvement of bone in tuberculous infection is uncommon, and the variable clinical and radiological features may mimic pyogenic osteomyelitis, bone tumor or other inflammatory and neoplastic processes of the synovium. We have reported our experiences with the diagnosis of tuberculosis infection in the ankle and foot with the hope of providing sufficient information about these cases to lead to early diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We treated 15 patients with tuberculosis involving the foot and ankle between 1995 and 2005. They were followed for a minimum of 24 months, and the average duration of symptoms was 23 months. All patients underwent a physical examination, routine laboratory tests, plain radiographs, and a biopsy of the infection site. MRI studies were performed in 10 patients and a CT scan was done in one patient. RESULTS: The lesions were located in the forefoot (2), midfoot (3) and ankle (10). From the imaging studies, the presumptive preoperative diagnoses were tuberculous osteomyelitis (7), pyogenic osteomyelitis (4), pigmented villonodular synovitis (2), amyloidosis (1), and avascular necrosis of the talus (1). These diagnoses were verified by granulomatous inflammation with or without caseous necrosis on histology and tubercle bacilli were cultured in four cases. In three cases the diagnosis was made by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). CONCLUSION: When a patient presents with a localized, painful swelling and a persistent draining sinus of the foot and ankle, tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Additionally, we highly recommend taking a biopsy of the site of suspected infection because an early diagnosis is the key to successful treatment.     

Tuberculosis detected after emergency cesarean section

A 29-year-old woman at 37 weeks of gestation was brought to our hospital as an emergency patient complaining of severe cough, hemoptysis and dyspnea. On arrival, we suspected that she was suffering from bronchial asthma or pulmonary embolism, but were unable to improve her respiratory condition. The decision was made to terminate gestation immediately and an emergency cesarean section was performed under spinal anesthesia. Postoperatively diagnosis of tuberculosis was made. Fortunately, there was no intramural tuberculous infection. She was a nurse. Nurses are twice as likely as the general public to contract tuberculosis. Medical workers must keep in mind that they may be infected with tuberculosis and they could also become the source of infection of tuberculosis. It is important to rule out tuberculosis when a patient, particularly a medical worker, complains of severe cough, hemoptysis and dyspnea.     

Laryngeal tuberculosis in renal transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis is the most common non-pyogenic infection encountered among renal transplant recipients in India. Although the lung is the most common site of involvement, a number of extrapulmonary organs can be involved. There is often a delay in diagnosis and institution of effective chemotherapy when there is an unusual site of involvement. METHODS AND RESULTS: We report two renal transplant recipients with laryngeal tuberculosis who presented with prolonged hoarseness of voice and painful dysphagia. Acid-fast bacilli were demonstrated on laryngeal biopsy and smear. Fever and pulmonary involvement were seen in only one patient. This is the first report of laryngeal tuberculosis in renal transplant recipients. CONCLUSIONS: Laryngeal tuberculosis should be suspected in renal transplant recipients who develop hoarseness of voice and odynophagia. Demonstration of acid-fast bacilli on biopsy or smear obtained by direct laryngoscopy helps in determining the diagnosis.     

Unusual presentation of neurological tuberculosis. A case report

A patient is described whose disease caused difficulty in diagnosis and indicated that neurological tuberculosis, like other extrapulmonary forms of this disease, may be associated with little or no evidence of pulmonary involvement. In a population where tuberculosis is common, antituberculosis drugs should be considered for any patient with undiagnosed illness--especially of the central nervous system--pending investigation. A search of the English-language literature did not reveal a similar report.     

High Grade Infective Spondylolisthesis of Cervical Spine Secondary to Tuberculosis

Spondylolisthesis coexisting with tuberculosis is rarely reported. There is a controversy whether spondylolisthesis coexists or precedes tuberculosis. Few cases of pathological spondylolisthesis secondary to tuberculous spondylodiscitis have been reported in the lumbar and lumbosacral spine. All cases in the literature presented as anterolisthesis, except one which presented as posterolisthesis of lumbar spine. Spondylolisthesis in the cervical spine is mainly degenerative and traumatic. Spondylolisthesis due to tuberculosis is not reported in the lower cervical spine. The exact mechanism of such an occurrence of spondylolisthesis with tuberculosis is sparsely reported in the literature and inadequately understood. We report a rare case of high grade pathological posterolisthesis of the lower cervical spine due to tubercular spondylodiscitis in a 67-year-old woman managed surgically with a three-year follow-up period. This case highlights the varied and complex presentation of tuberculosis of the lower cervical spine and gives insight into its pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management.