Microbiologically Confirmed Pleural Tuberculosis in an Adult Male: A Case Report and Review of Diagnostic Approaches

Abstract

Pleural tuberculosis is a common extrapulmonary manifestation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, presenting with non-specific respiratory and constitutional symptoms. Diagnostic confirmation is often difficult due to the paucibacillary nature of pleural fluid. However, molecular tools such as the GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, California, USA) have improved microbiological diagnosis. The authors present a case of pleural tuberculosis in a 37-year-old Nigerian male with microbiological confirmation and a review of diagnostic strategies.