Sternoclavicular Joint Tuberculosis With Cold Abscess

Abstract

All organ systems may be affected by tuberculosis (TB) but tuberculosis arthritis is responsible for approximately 1% of TB patients. Weight bearing joints such as hips and knees are most commonly affected; whereas involvement of sternoclavicular joint with tuberculosis is a very rare disease. In this case report we present a 63-year old woman with tuberculosis of the sternoclavicular joint. Her chief complaint was left shoulder pain and swelling over the left sternoclavicular region. It was diagnosed clinically and confirmed by histological results of the needle biopsy of tissue specimens. The diagnosis of tuberculous arthritis should be considered in any patient with unexplained shoulder pain and swelling in sternoclavicular joint in an endemic region for tuberculosis.