Case report: Tuberculous abscess of the foot without bony involvement: A rare presentation

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health challenge, with musculoskeletal involvement being an uncommon manifestation. Tuberculous abscesses of the foot are rare, especially in the absence of osteomyelitis. We report a case of a 52-year-old male who presented with a painless swelling over the dorsal aspect of the left mid-foot for two years. The diagnosis was confirmed by aspirate cytology and Ziehl-Neelsen staining, which revealed acid-fast bacilli (AFB). This case highlights the importance of considering tuberculous abscesses in the differential diagnosis of chronic foot swellings, even in the absence of bony involvement.