Musculoskeletal tuberculosis – imaging using low-end and advanced modalities for developing and developed countries

Abstract

Musculoskeletal involvement by TB is rare in comparison to other forms of the disease. It most commonly involves the spine but can also involve large weight-bearing joints, long bones, the skull and the soft tissues. Characteristic appearances of musculoskeletal TB are described for numerous imaging modalities in this paper but it is also highlighted that when based on imaging appearances alone, there is always a differential diagnosis, including other infections and malignancies. Awareness of of TB as a possible cause of vertebral body lesions, arthritis and synovitis, long bone lesions and soft tissue collections will allow clinicians to consider TB based on imaging and will sometimes be characteristic enough to allow for a trial of therapy, thereby avoiding biopsy. This paper specifically describes the imaging appearances on both basic modalities such as plain radiographs and ultrasound for those working in resource-restricted areas, as well as on high-end modalities such as CT and MRI for those with access to these. Tuberculosis is no longer a disease limited to the developing world and radiologists in the developed world must be able to make this diagnosis in both immigrants and the native population.