Case Report

Sternal Tuberculosis Presenting as Multiple Cutaneous Sinuses

Authors: Pankaj Kumar Garg, MBBS, Narinder Teckchandani, MS, Niladhar Shankarrao Hadk, MS, PhD

Abstract

Isolated involvement of the sternum with tuberculosis is rare. Only a few cases of sternal tuberculosis have been reported in literature. Tubercular sternal osteomyelitis presenting as multiple cutaneous sinuses over the anterior chest wall is extremely rare. We present a patient with sternal tuberculosis presenting as multiple cutaneous sinuses over the anterior chest wall. Standard antitubercular chemotherapy resulted in complete recovery.


Key Points


* Osseous tuberculosis continues to manifest in atypical clinical presentations, posing a diagnostic challenge to physicians.


* Multiple nonhealing cutaneous sinuses over the anterior chest wall may be a manifestation of sternal tuberculosis.


* Identification of an unusual presentation of osseous tuberculosis requires a high index of suspicion, especially in endemic regions.

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