Bilateral tuberculous psoas abscess.

Area of Science:

• Medicine
• Infectious Diseases
• Radiology

Background:

• Psoas abscesses are uncommon, typically unilateral, and often caused by Staphylococcus aureus.
• Tuberculous psoas abscesses are rare, with bilateral involvement being exceptionally infrequent, particularly in developed countries.
• These abscesses can be primary or secondary to adjacent infections.

Observation:

• A case of bilateral tuberculous psoas abscess was identified in an immunocompetent patient.
• The abscesses were secondary to spondylodiscitis, indicating a contiguous spread of infection.
• Diagnostic imaging likely played a crucial role in identifying the bilateral nature and tuberculous origin.

Findings:

• The patient presented with a rare instance of bilateral tuberculous psoas abscess.
• The etiology was confirmed as tuberculosis, secondary to vertebral spondylodiscitis.
• The absence of immunocompromise in the patient makes this presentation even more unusual.

Implications:

• This case underscores the importance of considering tuberculosis in the differential diagnosis of psoas abscesses, even in immunocompetent individuals.
• It highlights the possibility of rare presentations like bilateral involvement secondary to spinal infections.
• Further research into the epidemiology and diagnostic challenges of tuberculous psoas abscesses is warranted.