Tuberculosis and Poncet's disease: the many faces of an old enemy

Abstract

1 describe a patient with constitutional symptoms, bilateral pulmonary infi ltrates, cervical lymphadenopathy, skin nodules, and symmetrical large joint polyarthritis. The multisystem involvement suggests an underlying cause such as tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, vasculitis, HIV, or possibly multiple origins. Lymph node and skin biopsy samples were pathognomonic of tuberculosis. No information about tuberculosis culture is provided and it is assumed that drug susceptibility testing was not done. This case reminds us that tuberculosis is common in individuals from resource poor settings (an estimated 9 million cases occurring annually) and should be looked for in any encounter with the health-care system or practitioner. 2