Pleural tuberculosis presented as multiple pleural masses: An atypical presentation

Abstract

Tuberculous involvement of the pleura usually presents as pleural effusion, empyema or pleural thickening. Pleural tuberculosis presenting with multiple masses without parenchymal involvement or lymphadenopathy has been reported rarely in the English literature. We report a case of a 68-year-old male with unilateral pleural tuberculosis presenting as multiple different sized nodular masses evident on computed tomography (CT) of the chest with a large hemorrhagic pleural effusion, which initially raised a possibility of mesothelioma. Pleuroscopy also revealed multiple pleural masses. Pathological examination of the biopsy specimen showed multiple epitheloid cell granulomas confirming the diagnosis.

Keywords

• Atypical
• multiple pleural masses
• pleuroscopy
• tuberculosis