Tuberculous Abscesses in Patients with AIDS

Abstract

Five cases of large tuberculous abscesses in patients with AIDS were observed over a 2-year period at the New York Veterans Affairs Medical Center. These cases represent 11.6% of the 43 cases of tuberculosis diagnosed in patients with AIDS during that period. The abscesses were located in the liver, abdominal wall, psoas muscle, mediastinum, and peripancreatic area. All patients presented with localized pain or swelling, and four of five patients had fever. The diagnosis was made on the basis of detection of abscesses on computed tomography (CT) and the results of culture of abscess material obtained by CT-guided aspiration. CT-guided therapeutic drainage was performed in two cases. Despite administration of therapy, two of five patients died of tuberculous infection. Formation of tuberculous abscesses appears to be a common complication of tuberculosis in patients with AIDS. This diagnosis should be considered for patients with AIDS who have fever and localized pain or swelling.

Disseminated tuberculosis presenting as mesenteric and cerebral abscess in HIV infection: case report

“…Ayegnon KG et al [3] described four cases of acute peritoneal tuberculosis in HIV infection mimicking acute appendicular peritonitis and presenting as acute abdomen. Lupatkin H et al [4] observed five cases of large tubercular abscesses located in the liver, abdominal wall, psoas muscle, mediastinum, and peripancreatic areas. In HIV individuals who have fever and localized pain or swelling in the abdomen, tubercular abscess has to be considered and the formation of tuberculous abscesses appears to be a common complication of tuberculosis.…”

Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculous Iliopsoas Abscess

“…[7][8][9][10][11][12] CT is more sensitive than ultrasound in showing the exact localization and the extent of the abscess. 13 When performed by experienced personnel, PCD has a low risk and is a fairly easy procedure for the management of psoas abscess, especially in countries where tuberculosis is widespread.…”

Utilization of the Safe Surgical Dislocation Approach in the Surgical Management of Early Hip Tuberculosis

“…The prevalence of TB is evidently high among AIDS patients, and sometimes it is the first manifestation of HIV infection [6]. Latest estimates of the World Health Organization have stated that there were 9.6 million new TB cases in the year 2014 and 1.5 million deaths resulting from TB, with about 1.1 million deaths were among HIV-negative cases and 0.4 million were HIVassociated TB deaths [7].…”