Xanthogranulomatous pleuritis - An unusual presentation of tuberculosis

In pulmonary practice, pleural effusion is a commonly encountered entity and has various etiologies. Pleural effusions in postpartum women can be an incidental self-limiting finding. The presence of systemic or respiratory symptoms, however, calls for prompt etiological workup and targeted therapy. Tuberculous pleuritis and lupus-related pleural disease are well known to flare up in the postpartum period. We describe the case of a young healthcare worker with no previous comorbidities who presented with fever, breathlessness, and chest pain 2 weeks after an uneventful confinement. Chest radiograph revealed moderate left-sided pleural effusion. Pleural fluid analysis was biochemically consistent with tubercular effusion. Pleural biopsy histological examination showed features of xanthomatous pleuritis and Cartridge based nucleic acid amplification test (CB-NAAT) showed evidence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis(MTB). She was initiated on antitubercular medicines to which she responded well with the resolution of clinical symptoms and pleural collection. This is the first case report describing an association of xanthogranulomatous pleuritis with tuberculosis.