title: Pseudotumoral form of soft tissue tuberculosis of the hand: six cases.
abstract: Musculoskeletal involvement is not uncommon in extra-pulmonary tuberculosis, but the localization in the soft tissue of the hand is very rare. Diagnosis is much more difficult because of the atypical location and non-specific symptoms. We report 6 cases of pseudotumoral form of soft tissue tuberculosis of the hand treated in our department during the past 12 years. The mean age of the patients was 51 years with extremes of 44 and 63 years. A marked female predominance was observed (sex ratio = 0.2). All patients presented with swelling of the finger, two of which were painful swelling. All long fingers were involved; the thumb was involved in two cases. The histological study after excisional biopsy revealed caseating giant cell granulomas with epitheloid cells confirming the diagnosis. Antibacillary chemotherapy promoted healing and good outcome in our patients.
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic surgery and Trauma Department, Maamouri Hospital, Nabeul, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mohamed Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sbai
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic surgery and Trauma Department, Maamouri Hospital, Nabeul, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Sofien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benzarti
authors.affiliation: Anatomic pathology Department, Maamouri Hospital, Nabeul, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Emna
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chalbi
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic surgery and Trauma Department, Maamouri Hospital, Nabeul, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Hichem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Msek
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic surgery and Trauma Department, Maamouri Hospital, Nabeul, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Adel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khorbi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D006101:Granuloma, Giant Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D006225:Hand / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents
keywords: Tuberculosis; hand; mycobacterium tuberculosis; pseudotumoral form; soft tissue