Extra-pulmonary Tuberculosis Diagnostic Dilemma in an Immunocompetent Patient – A Case Report

One of the biggest risks to public health is tuberculosis (TB), an infectious disease caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. As one of the most communicable diseases in the present day, tuberculosis has historically claimed more lives than any other infectious disease, leading to high rates of morbidity and mortality. Despite being present, it is still disregarded by clinicians as a cause of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. This case report focuses on an atypical presentation of an extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) infection in the form of a soft tissue mass presenting as a chest wall abscess in an immunocompetent person. This case was identified and managed appropriately. This atypical case presentation without lung involvement indicates that a complete case analysis is necessary. In this case, diagnosis was established using microbiological methods, molecular, imaging, and histopathological diagnosis. However, this example clarifies an essential lesson that the shift is beginning from pulmonary to extrapulmonary tuberculosis cases.