Sternal Tuberculosis: Case Series of Two Cases

INTRODUCTION: Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB) mainly involves the spine and weight-bearing joints and sternal TB accounts for only 1% of musculoskeletal TB cases. Diagnosis and management of sternal TB propose a challenge at times due to the rarity and unfamiliarity of the presentations. CASE REPORT: We present two cases of TB of sternum that presented to our institute. The first patient was a 52-year-old male with 2 months history of swelling over the chest wall and the second was a 19-year-old female who presented with swelling for 1 week. Both patients were managed with anti-tubercular drugs for 12 months and had complete resolution of the disease. The patients were not on any medication prior to their presentations. CONCLUSION: Isolated sternal TB is an exceedingly rare form of TB which usually presents as a chest wall swelling without any constitutional symptoms. Antitubercular medication is the mainstay of treatment and surgical intervention is reserved for only few cases.