title: Paraspinal tuberculosis mimicking malignancy.
abstract: Tuberculosis (TB) of the paraspinal muscles is a rare clinical entity. We present a case of an 18-year-old, Saudi male patient presenting with the clinical picture of a paraspinal mass that turned out to be paraspinal TB. It originated from the paraspinal tissues and muscles, and invaded the C6 and C7 vertebrae. Initially, it was highly suspicious for malignancy. A biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of TB, and the patient was treated successfully with anti-TB therapy. It is important to be aware that paraspinal TB can mimic malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Tel. +966 503832472. E-mail: herabi@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ameen Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Alherabi
authors.forename: Osama A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Marglani
authors.forename: Malak J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Gazzaz
authors.forename: Mohammed M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Abbas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019042:Muscle Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D064170:Paraspinal Muscles; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis*