Multicentric spinal tuberculosis with sternoclavicular joint involvement: a rare presentation.

Area of Science:

• Medicine
• Infectious Diseases
• Radiology

Background:

• Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic infectious disease with diverse clinical manifestations.
• Pulmonary TB is most common, but extrapulmonary TB, particularly skeletal involvement, occurs frequently.
• Disseminated and multicentric TB disproportionately affect individuals with compromised nutrition and immunity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of disseminated tuberculosis in an immune-competent patient.
• To illustrate the diagnostic utility of radiological and histological examinations in complex TB cases.
• To underscore the importance of considering TB in refractory respiratory illnesses.

Main Methods:

• Case report detailing a patient with multi-site tuberculosis.
• Diagnosis confirmed via radiological imaging and histological analysis.
• Treatment involved standard multidrug antitubercular therapy.

Main Results:

• The patient presented with tuberculosis involving multiple anatomical locations.
• Radiological and histological findings confirmed disseminated disease.
• Multidrug antitubercular therapy led to significant clinical and radiological improvement.

Conclusions:

• Tuberculosis can manifest with varied and uncommon presentations, even in immunocompetent hosts.
• Extrapulmonary and disseminated TB should be considered in the differential diagnosis of persistent cough and fever, especially when unresponsive to standard treatments.
• Awareness of these varied presentations is crucial, particularly in regions with socioeconomic challenges impacting public health.