Sausage digit due to radish bacillus

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Atypical mycobacterial infections can present with diverse clinical manifestations.
• Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for favorable outcomes in mycobacterial tenosynovitis.

Observation:

• An elderly woman presented with a 'sausage finger,' characterized by diffuse swelling of the digit.
• This clinical presentation is a known but under-recognized sign of tenosynovitis.

Findings:

• The cause of the tenosynovitis was identified as an atypical mycobacterium, specifically Mycobacterium terrae.
• Mycobacterium terrae, also known as the radish bacillus, was confirmed as the causative agent.

Implications:

• Highlights the importance of considering atypical mycobacterial infections in patients with unexplained tenosynovitis.
• Suggests Mycobacterium terrae as a potential pathogen in rheumatological conditions presenting with digit swelling.