Rare Presentation of Caries Exudata with Dumbbell-Shaped Abscess in an Adult - A Case Report

Tuberculosis (TB) of the shoulder joint is a sparse entity. Here, we are presenting a case of glenohumeral joint TB (caries exudata variant) with 1-year follow-up.

Our patient, a 65-year-old male individual, came to the outpatient department with complaints of swelling and pain in the right shoulder of 6 months duration. Patient's systemic examination and vitals were within normal limits, and local examination of the shoulder joint revealed massive dumbbell-shaped swelling, tenderness along the joint line, and grossly restricted range of movements. Radiograph of the shoulder joint showed osteolytic lesions in the humeral head and glenoid with a reduction in glenohumeral joint space. We treated the case with the aspiration of the abscess followed by three sessions of injection streptomycin into the cavity at monthly intervals. The patient also received anti-tubercular drugs as per the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program guidelines for 1 year. After 12 months, the patient was disease-free and had a functional range of motion.

In adults, the classical dry type of shoulder TB (caries sicca) has been described, while the fulminating variety rarely has been reported. The latter type of shoulder TB is much more common in children. We report a fulminant variety of shoulder joint TB in an old-aged patient who presented with massive dumbbell-shaped cold abscess and destruction of glenohumeral joint.