A Very Unusual Presentation of Miliary Tuberculosis and Osteomyelitis as an Incidental Finding of Musculoskeletal Pain.

ABSTRACT

Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly infectious disease that takes the primary or latent route. In primary TB, the patient often presents with constitutional symptoms such as cough, fever, weight loss, and hemoptysis. This 83-year-old patient was sent to the emergency department (ED) by her primary care physician after abnormal imaging for acute back and neck pain. Imaging revealed pulmonary TB with possible tuberculosis osteomyelitis versus metastatic carcinoma to the cervical vertebrae. The case's unique presentation gives light to the need for more research on miliary TB and tuberculosis spondylitis/osteomyelitis in various populations and circumstances to ensure prompt and adequate patient care.