Abstract:
Tuberculosis presenting as monoarticular involvement in immunocompetent patients is rare. Here, we report a Sri Lankan
patient presenting with ankle swelling due to tuberculosis with no other extrapulmonary or pulmonary involvement. Magnetic
resonance imaging showed destruction of articular cartilage of the ankle joint with chronic inflammation of the subtalar
joint. The diagnosis was confirmed by synovial tissue culture which was positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The patient
recovered uneventfully with anti-tuberculosis treatment. Therefore, a high degree of suspicion is necessary to diagnose
extrapulmonary tuberculosis when patients are presenting with atypical monoarthritis.
