Abdominal pain and swelling as an initial presentation of spinal tuberculosis

BMJ Case Rep. 2014 Feb 19:2014:bcr2013202550. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2013-202550.

Abstract

Spinal tuberculosis (Pott's disease) is one of the common extra-pulmonary presentations of tuberculosis. Spinal tuberculosis commonly presents with back pain, fever and night sweats. In this report, we present a case of spinal tuberculosis complicated by bilateral large psoas abscesses. The patient presented with bilateral flank pain and swellings rather than the classic presentation of back pain. The aim of this report is to draw the attention of physicians to this uncommon presentation of spinal tuberculosis, as an early recognition of such condition may expedite diagnosis and treatment, thereby preventing future complications of the disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Pain / etiology
  • Adult
  • Edema / etiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Psoas Abscess / diagnosis*
  • Psoas Abscess / diagnostic imaging
  • Psoas Abscess / etiology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Tuberculosis, Spinal / complications
  • Tuberculosis, Spinal / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis, Spinal / diagnostic imaging