Multifocal skeletal tuberculosis with atypical imaging features

Abstract

Multifocal skeletal involvement is exceptional, constituting <5% of all bony tuberculosis (TB), even in countries where TB is endemic. Multifocal skeletal TB is defined as osteoarticular lesions that occur simultaneously at two or more locations. We describe an immunocompetent patient with multifocal skeletal TB involving multiple vertebrae, ribs, and pelvis with empyema necessitans who also had atypical imaging features to make the readers aware of such unusual presentations of TB.

Keywords

• empyema necessitans
• extrapulmonary tuberculosis
• multifocal skeletal tuberculosis
• skeletal tuberculosis
• spinal tuberculosis