J Wound Manag Res.  2019 Mar;15(1):31-34. 10.22467/jwmr.2019.00556.

Sternal Tuberculosis: A Case Report

• Kim GH
• Kim SW

• KMID: 2469758
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.22467/jwmr.2019.00556

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.

Keyword

Wound healing; Tuberculosis; Osteomyelitis

MeSH Terms

Aged, 80 and over
Bone Marrow
Debridement
Early Diagnosis
Female
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Osteomyelitis
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Prevalence
Seoul
Sternum
Thorax
Tuberculosis*
Wound Healing
Wounds and Injuries