Disseminated tuberculosis with rare coccygeal involvement: a case report

Abstract

Introduction : Tuberculosis (TB) is a preventable and usually curable disease but remains a major health problem worldwide, particularly in developing countries. TB of the lumbosacral junction is rare and occurs in only 1% to 2% of all cases of spinal TB. Moreover, isolated sacrococcygeal TB is extremely rare. Case report : We present a case of a 64-year-old patient with a history of diabetes who presented with chronic back pain and cough. Physical examinations revealed a peri-anal fistula and left elbow joint arthritis. the patient is diagnosed with disseminated tuberculosis with coccygeal involvement. Diagnosis was achieved non-invasively using Xpert MTB/RIF confirming Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. The patient experienced complete resolution of symptoms following the commencement of anti-tuberculosis therapy. Conclusion : We highlight the importance of this case due to the rare coccygeal localization of tuberculosis in an immunocompetent patient, diagnosed through non-invasive means.