Orbital tuberculoma masquerading as an orbital malignancy.
BACKGROUND
Orbital tuberculosis is exceedingly rare in areas where tuberculosis is non-endemic. A case of childhood orbital tuberculosis is reported, which the authors believe to be the first reported case of orbital tuberculosis in the Australasian region.


RESULTS
The patient a 6-year-old boy presented with proptosis and was initially mistaken to have an orbital malignancy. Treatment with antituberculous drugs resulted in resolution of the condition.


CONCLUSIONS
This case served as a timely reminder of the need to keep awareness of the extrapulmonary manifestations of tuberculosis alive even in developed countries. A high index of suspicion for this eminently treatable disease in the appropriate clinical situation is particularly important when migrant communities from high-prevalence areas are involved.
Chin
P K
PK
Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia. tanjk@pc.jaring.my
Jacobs
M B
MB
Hing
S J
SJ
D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009916:Orbital Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D009918:Orbital Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014375:Tuberculoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014392:Tuberculosis, Ocular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
D000995:Antitubercular Agents