Anterior Chest Wall Musculoskeletal Tuberculosis

Abstract

Musculoskeletal tuberculosis (MT) occurs in 1–3% of patients with tuberculosis, while MT of the chest wall constitutes 1% to 5% of all cases of musculoskeletal MT. They are most frequently found at the margins of the sternum and along the rib shafts. Computed tomography is a useful tool for investigation in the diagnosis of abscess and in determining the extent of an abscess. Antituberculous chemotherapy and surgical excision should be started immediately after the appropriate microbiological and histological samples have been obtained if the clinical suspicion is high. We presented our experience with a 49-year-old woman who had musculoskeletal tuberculosis at the anterior chest wall together with a review of the literature on this subject.