Sternal Tuberculosis: A Case Report

Abstract

The sternum is a very rarely involved site in extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Here, we present a case of sternal tuberculosis, and review the literature. An 84-year-old female patient visited Seoul National University Hospital presenting a 2 × 3 cm chest wound with sternum exposure. Chest magnetic resonance imaging revealed a sternal bone marrow signal corresponding to sternal osteomyelitis. Wound cultures yielded Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and tuberculosis polymerase chain reaction was also positive for M. tuberculosis. The wound was totally epithelized 1 month after debridement and initiation of oral anti-tuberculosis agents. Even though the prevalence of sternal tuberculosis is not high, when there is an unresolved infection or a chest wound that does not heal, sternal tuberculosis should be suspected and tests should be performed in order to obtain an early diagnosis and provide appropriate treatment.