RADIOGRAPHIC FINDINGS OF EXTREMITY TUBERCULOSIS IN CHILDHOOD - BACK TO THE FUTURE

Since 1985, there has been an increase in the incidence of skeletal tu berculosis. Although this recent increase may prove to be temporary, f amiliarity with the protean manifestations of the disease is essential . The authors studied radiographs of 45 children in whom tuberculosis of the extremities had been diagnosed between 1937 and July 1991. Dise ase involved the hip in 18 cases; the knee in 17; the ankle in five; t he shoulder in two; the midfoot in two; and the elbow, wrist, and hand s in one each. Radiographic findings included joint effusion, periarti cular osteopenia, joint space narrowing, cortical irregularity, lytic lesions, periosteal new bone formation, and advanced epiphyseal maturi ty. When the hip was involved, subluxation was a common finding. There is no single pathognomonic finding with which to make the diagnosis o f skeletal tuberculosis. Clinical information may be helpful.