[A case of suspected tuberculous retroperitoneal abscess effectively cured using sclerotherapy with minocycline]

A twenty-five-year-old female was admitted with lower right abdominal pain, right coxalgia and an inability to extend her right inferior limb. She had a history of tuberculosis pleurisy two years before. Abdominal ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a right retroperitoneal mass which was suspected to be an abscess or tumor. Percutaneous aspiration of the mass was followed by the administration (p.o.) of antituberculosis drugs (pyrazinamide, ethanbutol, isoniazide, refampicin). One month after initial drainage, the tube was removed but intra-cystic fluid collection was still visible a month later using CT and MRI. Therefore, a second percutaneous aspiration was followed by the instillation of streptomycin and minocycline hydrochloride. Six months after employing this therapy, no fluid collection was found.