Tuberculosis Mimicking Bone Tumor

Abstract

Tuberculosis has been greatest mimicker in medicine. Tuberculosis of skeletal system can simulate a malignancy both clinically and radiologically. As tuberculosis of Ulna is a rare, we report a case of unifocaldiaphyseal tubercular osteomyelitis of Ulna which resembled malignancy in a 60yrs male with mildly painful, gradually increasing swelling over dorso medial aspect of left distal forearm since 5 months duration. Radiological findings were suggestive of aggressive bone tumor and biopsy was planned. Tru-cut biopsy revealed sterile pus and open biopsy was performed. Intraoperatively there was cheesy pus with flakes of sequestra and multiple breaches in ulna cortex. Histo-pathological examination revealed chronic inflammatory granulomatous lesion suggestive of tubercular osteomyelitis. We report this case not only because tuberculosis of ulna is rare, but also because it mimicked malignant bone tumor both clinico-radiologically leading to delay in diagnosis and institution of treatment.

Medical Journal of Shree Birendra Hospital; Jan-June 2012/vol.11/Issue1/49-51

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/mjsbh.v11i1.7791