Tuberculosis (Extrapulmonary)

Question 1

Define tuberculosis (extrapulmonary).

Answer 1

When TB occurs in organ systems other than the lungs, it is referred to as extrapulmonary TB (EPTB).

Question 2

Explain the aetiology/risk factors of tuberculosis (extrapulmonary).

Answer 2

Exposure to TB
Born in Asia, Latin America, or Africa
HIV infection
Immunosuppressive medicines
Haematological or head/neck malignancy
End stage renal disease (ESRD)
Apical fibrosis
Very young age

Question 3

Summarise the epidemiology of tuberculosis (extrapulmonary).

Answer 3

Of the 9272 reported cases of active TB in the US in 2016, 20% had EPTB disease alone. Patients born outside the US accounted for 68.5% of the total cases of TB in 2016.

Question 4

Recognise the presenting symptoms of tuberculosis (extrapulmonary). Recognise the signs of tuberculosis (extrapulmonary) on physical examination.

Answer 4

Enlarged lymph node
Pleuritic chest pain
Skeletal pain
Urinary symptoms
Abdominal swelling
Abdominal pain
Cough
Hepatomegaly
Fever
Night sweats

Question 5

Identify appropriate investigations for tuberculosis (extrapulmonary) and interpret the results.

Answer 5

Chest x-ray
Sputum smear
Sputum culture
Tuberculin skin testing (TST)
FBC
Fine-needle aspiration (FNA)
Pleural fluid analysis
Ascitic fluid analysis
Bone films
CSF analysis
Urinalysis
Nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT)