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Primary tubercular osteomyelitis of the sternum

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Abstract

Tubercular involvement of the sternum, leading to osteomyelitis, is a rarely described entity even in countries where tuberculosis is endemic. Presentation in pediatric age group is even more uncommon. We describe a 12 year old girl who presented with a mass over the manubruim sterni and fever. CT chest demonstrated a soft tissue mass in the anterior mediastinum, eroding the cortex of the manubrium. Tubercular etiology was suggested by presence of epithelioid granulomas and acid fast bacilli in the Ziehl-Neelsen staining of the aspirate from the lesion. the patient responded well to antitubercular treatment.

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Correspondence to Suvasini Sharma.

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Sharma, S., Juneja, M. & Garg, A. Primary tubercular osteomyelitis of the sternum. Indian J Pediatr 72, 709–710 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02724085

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