A case of afebrile miliary tuberculosis that progressed from tuberculous spondylitis with iliopsoas abscess

Intern Med. 2010;49(19):2151-5. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.49.3792. Epub 2010 Oct 1.

Abstract

We present a case of a 78-year-old woman who visited our hospital for chronic atrial fibrillation. She consulted an orthopedic surgeon for lumbar pain in August 2009 and has been followed up for osteoporosis. However, her lumbar pain became exacerbated. In December 2009, clinical examination revealed that the pain was caused by tuberculous spondylitis and iliopsoas abscess. Diffuse miliary shadow, which was undetected earlier, was noted on chest roentgenogram; she was diagnosed with miliary tuberculosis. Lumbar pain is common in elderly individuals and should be regarded as one of the tuberculosis symptoms, considering its atypical course in elderly patients.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Low Back Pain / etiology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Psoas Abscess / complications*
  • Psoas Abscess / diagnosis*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Tuberculosis, Miliary / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis, Miliary / diagnostic imaging
  • Tuberculosis, Miliary / drug therapy
  • Tuberculosis, Miliary / etiology*
  • Tuberculosis, Spinal / complications*
  • Tuberculosis, Spinal / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis, Spinal / drug therapy

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents