Primary Cold Abscess Of The Anterior Abdominal Wall: An Unusual Site Of Presentation

Abstract

Tuberculosis may involve any organ in the body but involvement of abdominal muscle is uncommon and, in most cases, is caused by spread of the infection by either hematogenous route or direct inoculation from a tuberculous abdominal lymph node or extension from underlying tubercular synovitis and osteomyelitis. Autopsy studies have shown abdominal wall involvement in less than 1% of patients who died of tuberculosis. Management of this entity is mainly in the form of anti-tubercular therapy. Surgical intervention in the form of either sonography or CT-guided aspiration or open drainage is usually reserved for patients in whom medical treatment fails. We are presenting a case of primary tuberculous abdominal wall abscess without any evidence of pulmonary, skeletal or gastrointestinal tuberculosis in an immunocompetent patient.