Cystic Tuberculosis of Superior Lateral Part of the Left Thigh

Abstract

As dissemination of Tuberculosis (TB) to soft tissue is not a usual finding, sometimes it is not considered for differential diagnosis and, if so, is overlooked by most health care professionals. Although rare, TB should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cysts of the thigh, especially in endemic areas. We report the case of an 80-year-old female presented with cyst with purulent discharge in her lateral left thigh that was persistent to other surgical and antibiotic treatments. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed positive results for TB. Anti-tubercular therapy had promising results. Our case serves to highlight the importance of considering a reactivated TB infection in individuals with chronic discharge, especially if symptoms are not classic or fail to respond to conventional therapy. Histological study and MRI are useful tools to guide diagnosis, with confirmation provided by PCR.

Keywords

• Case study
• Tuberculosis
• Cyst
• Thigh