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[Disseminated extrapulmonary tuberculosis with skin, lymph node and bone involvement]
N Gómez Rodríguez1, J Ibáñez Ruán, J L Ferreiro Seoane
1Servicio de Reumatología, Centro Médico POVISA, Vigo.
Anales De Medicina Interna (Madrid, Spain : 1984)
|December 22, 1999
Summary
Disseminated extrapulmonary tuberculosis is rare in immunocompetent individuals. This case highlights a 68-year-old man with disseminated tuberculosis without pulmonary involvement, presenting with lymphadenopathy, fever, osteomyelitis, and skin lesions.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Immunology
Background:
- Disseminated extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is infrequently observed in immunocompetent individuals.
- Extrapulmonary TB can manifest in various organs, often posing diagnostic challenges.
Observation:
- A 68-year-old, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seronegative male presented with a five-month history of constitutional symptoms.
- Clinical manifestations included generalized lymphadenopathy, intermittent evening fever, osteomyelitis of the left fibula, and papulopustular cutaneous lesions.
- No clinical or radiological evidence of pulmonary tuberculosis was detected.
Findings:
- Bacteriological and pathological examinations confirmed disseminated extrapulmonary tuberculosis.
- The absence of pulmonary involvement in this immunocompetent host is a notable diagnostic feature.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering disseminated extrapulmonary TB even in the absence of typical pulmonary signs or known immunocompromise.
- Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective management and improved patient outcomes in rare TB presentations.
- Further research into the pathogenesis of disseminated TB in immunocompetent hosts may elucidate unique host-pathogen interactions.