CYSTIC TUBERCULOSIS OF BONE IN CHILDREN

We treated 13 children with histologically confirmed cystic tuberculos is of bone. Ten had solitary cystic lesions and three had the multicys tic form. Signs and symptoms were related mainly to the joint adjacent to the cyst. Most lesions were in the metaphyses of long bones. They were radiolucent, round or oval, and resembled pyogenic infections, an eurysmal and simple bone cysts, cartilaginous tumours or osteoid osteo ma. Only two of the children had pulmonary tuberculosis. The Mantoux s kin test was negative in four children and the ESR was normal in five. Curettage followed by anti-tuberculosis therapy for one year resulted in good healing, but two children had residual joint contractures. Bi opsy should be taken from the cystic area rather than from the synoviu m when a joint is involved.