Pott's disease with extensive bilateral psoas abscesses in a Nigerian woman: an unusual case

Bilateral psoas abscesses are uncommon in Pott's disease. We describe a 28-year-old Nigerian woman with a 2-year history of constitutional symptoms and a 1-year history of bilateral paravertebral masses. She had received anti-tuberculosis (TB) treatment in an interrupted manner. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed T10-T12 spondylitis, wedge collapse and extensive bilateral psoas abscesses. Histology of the abscess wall was definitively diagnosed as soft tissue TB, and special staining for acid-fast bacilli was positive. She was successfully treated with anti-TB therapy and ultrasound-guided surgical drainage of 6 L of abscess fluid. Complicated cases of Pott's disease may require multi-disciplinary interventions for optimal outcome.