[Extrapulmonary tuberculosis]

Abstract

Up to 25% of tuberculosis cases present extrapulmonary involvement. This is produced by haematogenous and lymphatic spread of the M. tuberculosis bacillus to other organs. The most common locations are the lymph nodes, pleura and the osteoarticular system. The problem with these types of tuberculosis is the difficulty in establishing a definitive diagnosis, since the clinical symptoms and results of imaging tests may be vague. It is often necessary to resort to invasive diagnostic testing such as ultrasound or CAT-guided FNAB, used to collect biological samples for diagnosis. Despite the growing use of and advances in recent years of molecular methods for early detection of mycobacteria DNA, cultures continue to be the gold standard that enable a firm microbiological diagnosis to be made. Treatment for these types of tuberculosis do not differ from treatment regimens for pulmonary forms of the same disease. The same antibiotic regimens for 6 months are recommended, and any extension of this period is advisable solely in tuberculosis affecting the central nervous system and in Pott's disease.