Leukemia presenting as purulent septic arthritis

This article presents a case of purulent septic arthritis of the left elbow as the presenting sign of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Negative cultures occur in approximately 60% of cases of septic arthritis even if cultures ar e obtained before antibiotics are administered.(1) It is unclear whether th e bacterial infection was located in the elbow or if the inflammation was a result of a malignancy.