A fatal case of spinal tuberculosis mistaken for metastatic lung cancer: recalling ancient Pott's disease.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Tuberculous spondylitis (Pott's disease) is an ancient human disease. Because it is rare in high-income, tuberculosis (TB) low incidence countries, misdiagnoses occur as sufficient clinical experience is lacking.

Case presentation

We describe a fatal case of a patient with spinal TB, who was mistakenly irradiated for suspected metastatic lung cancer of the spine in the presence of a solitary pulmonary nodule of the left upper lobe. Subsequently, the patient progressed to central nervous system TB, and finally, disseminated TB before the accurate diagnosis was established. Isolation and antimycobacterial chemotherapy were initiated after an in-hospital course of approximately three months including numerous health care related contacts and procedures.

Conclusion

SUBMITTER: Ringshausen FC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2784744 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature