Cold abscess of tuberculosis on Thoracic wall: three case report

Nearly 15 to 20% of tuberculosis cases are extrapulmonary and can be rarely seen as isolated in the thoracic wall. Three consecutive patients who were admitted to our clinic with complaint of painful swelling on chest were examined with a preliminary diagnosis of a mass on the thoracic wall. The common complaint of the patients, including two women and one man of 60, 35 and 30 years of age, respectively, was a palpable mass. A soft mass in the right eight rib on physical examination was palpable in our second case. In the other two cases, the masses which were fluctuating and presented with soft characteristics in their natures (on manibrium sterni in the first case and in the third left rib in the third case) were evaluated with a preliminary diagnosis of a tumor by using computed tomography. The lesions were completely removed by excisional biopsy in all cases. Histopathological examination was reported as the tissue showing caseose necrosis. Acid resistant bacteria studies were negative. Anti-tuberculosis therapy with four-drug combination was started for the cases. An isolated tuberculosis-related cold abscess in three cases, which is a rarely seen in the thoracic wall, was discussed in regard to clinical characteristics, diagnostic and treatment methods.