A rare case of tubercular collarstud abscess of anterior abdominal wall

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is considered as a ubiquitous disease, as it can involve any organ or a part of the body. Commonly, it involves the lungs and the abdomen. Muscle involvement is rare. In most cases, it is secondary to tubercular costochondritis or TB of the spine. Autopsy studies have revealed the abdominal wall involvement in <1% of patients who died of TB. A high index of suspicion is necessary to diagnose tubercular lesions in unusual anatomical locations. Antitubercular therapy is the main form of treatment; however, some patients may require surgical intervention. We are hereby presenting a case of tubercular anterior abdominal wall abscess secondary to wet peritonitis in a 40-year-old apparently healthy male with no past history of TB. The objective is to alert the clinicians and radiologists to the possibility of TB when considering such cystic lesions of the anterior abdominal wall.

Keywords

• anterior abdominal wall
• antitubercular therapy
• tuberculosis