Tuberculous mediastinal abscess as a paradoxical reaction in an immunocompetent individual

BMJ Case Rep. 2012 Apr 23:2012:bcr0120125498. doi: 10.1136/bcr.01.2012.5498.

Abstract

A 22-year-old man, diagnosed 7 weeks before with pulmonary tuberculosis and started on antitubercular therapy, presented with non-exertional retrosternal chest pain since the past week. He was diagnosed on the strength of thoracic radiograms and CT imaging to have a mediastinal abscess, which was percutaneously drained. He was continued on the same regimen of drugs. Analysis of the fluid obtained was suggestive of tuberculous aetiology. Steroids were not required.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abscess / diagnostic imaging
  • Abscess / drug therapy
  • Abscess / microbiology*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use
  • Chest Pain
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mediastinal Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Mediastinal Diseases / drug therapy
  • Mediastinal Diseases / microbiology*
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / diagnostic imaging*
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / drug therapy
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antitubercular Agents