[A swollen, febrile leg]

The authors report the case of a young man, of Algerian origin, with edema of the right lower limb accompanied by an inflammatory syndrome present for several months. This symptomatology, clinically suggestive of a deep venus thrombosis, but not confirmed by sonography, proved to be due in fact to pulmonary tuberculosis with septicemic spread to the muscle masses of the right calf. The diagnosis was made by direct paracentesis of the right calf. It is important to remember that pulmonary tuberculosis with septicemic spread to muscle masses but without bone lesions remains rare. The special interest of this case thus concerns its tuberculous etiology and clinical similarity to a deep venous thrombosis. Nevertheless, the diagnosis should have been eliminated earlier in view of the clinical course and worsening of systemic manifestations.