Tuberculous tenosynovitis of the wrist mimicking de Quervain's disease

We describe a rare case of tuberculous tenosynovitis involving the first dorsal compartment at the wrist mimicking de Quervain's disease. Differentiation between tuberculous infection and de Quervain's disease is important since corticosteroid injection, appropriate in the latter, is detrimental in tuberculous tenosynovitis. Early culture and biopsy in suspicious cases provide accurate diagnosis.