Tuberculose tibiale chez l’enfant à l’IRM: à propos d’un cas

Isolated bone involvement of tuberculosis is uncommon and mainly occurs among immunocompromised young adults. Initially, it can mimick an infection due to common germ or a tumor when its evolution is chronic. We here report the case of a 15-year old female patient with no particular previous history presenting with hard and painless swelling on the upper third of the leg with chronic evolution. Common X-ray showed lytic lesion in the upper metaphysiary region of the tibia with periosteal reaction. MRI showed cortical rupture with extension to the soft parts appearing as fluid collection with a thick wall, intensely enhancing after gadolinium injection. Surgical biopsy with histological analysis allowed to retain the diagnosis of tuberculous osteitis. This clinical case emphasizes the role of MRI in the examination of musculoskeletal pathologies.