Tuberculous arthritis mimicking neoplasm in a hemodialysis patient

Abstract

Hemodialysis patients are known to develop the complication of extrapulmonary tuberculosis more frequently than the general population. Tuberculous arthritis is a rare form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis and is reported to occur in approximately 1% of cases in nonuremic patients. Only 3 cases in dialysis patients, who were not proven by a bacterial culture or had died before treatment, have been reported. We report herein a culture-proven case of tuberculous arthritis developing at the sternoclavicular joint, which initially mimicked an apparent neoplasm in a hemodialysis patient. A favorable outcome was obtained after antituberculous therapy. Tuberculosis must be considered one of the most significant diagnoses in hemodialysis patients who present with a tumor-like lesion.