Research Information System
7.eacid2015, Tiflis, Georgia, 30 September - 03 October 2015, pp.202, (Full Text)
INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Mycobacterium tuberculosis frequently involves the lungs and pleura, but may cause localized or
systemic disease in all systems. It may rarely cause various clinical symptoms and findings by involving soft tissue and the skin. Our
aim in presenting these cases is to emphasize that tuberculosis can proceed with different clinical forms.
CASE 1: An 18 year old male patient presented with swelling and pain in the left forearm. One month previously he had presented
to the orthopedic and general surgery clinic due to swelling in the knee, and later the neck. Drainage was performed and antibiotic
therapy administered. No growth was observed in wound cultures. An edematous, fluctuating mass, 5x3 cm in diameter with a
hyperemic margin, with no increased temperature or sensitivity was present. Scarring from previous drainage scarring was present
over the right sternocleidomastoid muscle and in the left patellar region. At laboratory examination, erythrocyte sedimentation rate
74 mm/h, and C- reactive protein 3.31 mg/dl. The lesion on the upper extremity was aspirated and 15 cc purulent fluid was drained.
M. tuberculosis growth was observed in tuberculosis culture.
CASE 2: An 83 year old female patient presented with palpable swelling in the back, neck and axilla. The symptoms had persisted
for the previous 6 months. The lesion in the neck had drained spontaneously, but the abscesses had failed to resolve despite
antibiotic therapies that she was unable to name. Fixed masses approximately 2x2 cm in size in both axillary regions and 3x2 cm in
the right subcervical area were observed, together with a fluctuating mass with regular margins 4x3 cm in size in the lateral aspect
of the right scapula. Fifty cubic centiliters of purulent fluid was removed from the lesion in the scapular area. M. tuberculosis growth
was observed in tuberculosis cultere.
CONCLUSION: Tuberculosis is a disease that can proceed with various clinical forms and organ involvement. Involvement of the
skin and soft tissue is rare. It must be remembered that it may proceed with lymphadenopathy and abscesses. Tuberculosis must be
considered at preliminary diagnosis in cases with abscess.
KEY WORDS: Soft Tissue Abscess, Tuberculosis.