Disseminated tuberculosis with myelofibrosis presentation: a case report

Abstract

Abstract Background Primary myelofibrosis is a rare myeloproliferative disorder in middle-aged and old adults and should be distinguished from secondary and reactive causes of bone marrow fibrosis because, in reactive fibrosis, treatment approaches depend on the underlying etiology. Case presentation Here we report the case of a middle-aged Iranian man who was diagnosed and treated as primary myelofibrosis at presentation, and whose final diagnosis was disseminated tuberculosis with reactive bone marrow fibrosis. Conclusions It is prudent to evaluate the potential causes of myelofibrosis in any patient with the diagnosis primary myelofibrosis. Tuberculosis can be an important etiology of bone marrow fibrosis, especially in endemic areas.