Sternal tuberculosis in an immunocompetent adult

BMJ Case Rep. 2013 Apr 10:2013:bcr2013008810. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2013-008810.

Abstract

Skeletal tuberculosis accounts for 1-3% of patients with mycobacterial infection. Any bone can be a site for tuberculosis, but sternum involvement is quite rare. We report the case of a 37-year-old woman admitted because of chest pain and increased swelling over the anterior chest. She was immunocompetent and had no systemic features. She was diagnosed with tuberculosis of the sternum without active pulmonary disease. Conservative management with oral multidrug antituberculous therapy completely cured the patient.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Sternum / microbiology*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents