Sternal osteomyelitis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis: Case report and review of the literature

Sternal osteomyelitis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis is rare; since t he advent of modern antituberculous therapy, a limited number of detailed c ases have been reported. Most patients were relatively young, free of under lying disease, and lived in a country in which tuberculosis is endemic. The disease presented indolently with sternal pain and swelling. Extrasternal disease is detectable in less than half. Diagnosis was based on histologic examination of infected tissues and mycobacterial cultures. Most. patients recovered after surgical debridement and combination drug therapy. Tubercul ous sternal osteomyelitis should be considered in patients with sternal pai n and swelling.