Multifocal pure tubercular osteomyelitis: An unusual presentation in childhood

Abstract

Tuberculosis is a major health problem in the developing world. One-third of children infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis have extra pulmonary involvement. Skeletal tuberculosis occurs in 1–6% of them with vertebra being the commonest site. Pure tubercular osteomyelitis without joint involvement occurs in only 2–3% cases of osteoarticular tuberculosis. Common sites are femur, tibia, and fibula. Disseminated skeletal involvement is very rare in children (7%) and calvarial osteomyelitis is even rarer (1%). Here, we report a unique case of disseminated skeletal TB. A 7-year-old tribal girl with no evidence of immunodeficiency presented with multiple lytic lesions involving skull, sternum, and hip bone surprisingly sparing the joints and appendicular skeleton. There was no pulmonary involvement either. FNAC from all three swellings showed presence of acid-fast bacillus. Bone biopsy followed by culture in BACTEC further confirmed the diagnosis. There was complete resolution of the swellings after one year of anti-tubercular drug therapy.