(e.g. The role of surgery in chest wall tuberculosis).

<bold>Introduction:</bold> Chest wall tuberculosis is rare and still a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Cold abscess, meaning swelling without inflammation, is the characteristic presentation of the chest wall tuberculosis. This study aims to describe the diagnosis and therapeutic role of surgery. <bold>Methods:</bold> This is a retrospective study including 15 cases of chest wall tuberculosis admitted at the thoracic surgery department of CHU Abderrahmene Mami Ariana, over a 10-year period (January 2012 to December 2022). <bold>Results:</bold> The mean age of our patients was 43 years(08-52), with a clear female predominance (66%). The main sign was a chest wall swelling in all cases, associated with fever in 4 cases. Eight of our patients had unmanaged diabetes. The history of pulmonary tuberculosis was reported in one case. Chest CT- scann was performed in all cases, and it showed; soft tissue mass (n=5), fluid collection (n=8) , rib erosion (n=2), sternum erosion(n=1). None of our patients had mediastinal involvement. All of our patients underwent surgery; abcess flattening and drainage of the purulent collections with biopsy. Two of our patients had rib resections. The anatomopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of tuberculosis in all cases. The mean post-operative stay was 2 days. All of our patients underwent medical treatment (anti-tuberculosis) during 9 months with good outcomes. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Surgical intervention and histological examination are necessary to confirm the diagnosis of chest wall tuberculosis, in order to get the anti-tuberculosis medical treatment.