Tuberculous pyomyositis in acute leukaemia – A diagnostic quandary

Abstract

Tuberculous pyomyositis is a rare condition, that is commonly associated with, immunocompromised states, such
as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), Crohn’s disease, multiple myeloma etc. Acute leukaemia, and
its treatment is a condition that predisposes patients to several uncommon infections, but even in this setting the
occurrence of TB pyomyositis is not commonly reported. There are several challenges to making this diagnosis,
with disease relapse being an important differential diagnosis. Here we report the case of a 19 year old female
patient, who was diagnosed as a case of TB myositis while she was receiving maintenance therapy, as a part of
treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.