Tubercular Abscess of Anterior Chest Wall: A Case Report

Diagnosing musculoskeletal tuberculosis is challenging for healthcare providers and requires a high degree of suspicion. The diagnosis is strongly suggested by a combination of gradual symptom onset, clinical signs, histological or cytological characteristics, and relevant radiographic evidence. Timely diagnosis and treatment are essential to avoid significant damage to bones and joints. Tuberculosis affecting the ribs, presenting as chest swelling, is an exceptionally rare condition, with only a limited number of cases documented in medical literature. We report a case of a 65-year-old male with tuberculous involvement of the costochondral junction, presenting as a swelling in the anterior chest wall which extended laterally. Surgical exploration and histopathological analysis confirmed tuberculosis at the costochondral junction along with the formation of a secondary abscess in the right chest. Conservative management was started post surgical exploration along with anti-tuberculor treatment. This rare presentation of tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with a chest mass who are at high risk for tuberculosis.