An unusual case of primary tuberculosis of the patella and patellar tendon masquerading as gout

We present a case of a 54-year-old year gentleman with insidious onset of anterior knee pain. Imaging demonstrated a soft tissue lesion involving the patellar tendon and eroding the inferior pole of the patella. The imaging features, particularly ult rasound, resembled those that are typically seen with gout. Ultrasound guided biopsy revealed this to be TB of the patella. The patient was successfully treated with antitubercular therapy. Musculoskeletal TB, while usually not a primary form of TB, is an important consideration particularly in pati ents with risk factors for the disease. Its imaging features can mimic other forms of arthropathy such as gout. Moreover, while the knee is a relatively common site for TB infection, isolated involvement of the patella and patellar tendon is extremely rare. The case highlights the possibility of rar e musculoskeletal manifestation of TB as a well as a potential imaging pitfall of TB infection mimicking gout, which is an important consideration in clinical practice.
Source: Journal of Ultrasound - Category: Radiology Source Type: research