Tuberculous arthritis of sacroiliac joint with abscess formation: a case report

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis at times appears to be an unusual presentation of the disease. Its incidence has not decreased, though a slow decline in pulmonary tuberculosis has been observed over the past decades around the world. The diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis is still rather difficult today. Tuberculosis of the bones and joints, which constitutes a smaller part of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, is relatively rare in documented cases and can yield variable clinical manifestations. This study describes a young male patient who developed a rare condition of tuberculous arthritis of the right sacroiliac joint, with an abscess formation over the anterior aspect of the right iliac fossa and iliopsoas muscle. The diagnosis was made by roentgenographic examinations and proved by microscopic confirmation of the presence tuberculous bacilli in drainage from the involved foci. Antituberculosis therapy was begun thereafter. Symptoms improved and the patient was regularly followed up at the Outpatient Department. It is suggested that in patients with prolonged fever and possible Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections, repeated roentgenographic and microbiological examinations are mandatory.