Periorbital Tuberculosis: A Rare Case of Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis

PURPOSE: Orbital/periorbital tuberculosis (TB) is an uncommon manifestation of extrapulmonary TB, presenting diagnostic challenges due to its varied clinical features that can mimic other diseases. This report aims to present a rare case of periorbital TB in a young man. METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: A 36-year-old man presented with painless left periorbital swelling and discharge following facial trauma. Despite initial treatment with antibiotics elsewhere, symptoms persisted. Imaging revealed a periorbital abscess with adjacent bone involvement. Microbiologic studies demonstrated Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex growth, confirming TB. There was no evidence of systemic TB. The patient received anti-tuberculosis therapy. At the 8-month follow-up, he remained symptom-free. CONCLUSION: Orbital/periorbital TB, although rare, should be taken into consideration in regions with high TB prevalence when dealing with chronic, non-resolving periorbital lesions. Advanced imaging and molecular diagnostics play crucial roles in confirming the diagnosis, especially given the low sensitivity of traditional culture methods for extrapulmonary TB.