Tubercular osteomyelitis of sternum

Background: Sternal osteomylitis caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis is rare. Method: During the past 27 years, 10 cases tubercular osteomyelitis of sternum were seen. All patients presented with a painful swelling over the manubrium sternii. The patients were treated by an antitubercular drug regime, aspiration of the cold abscess over the manubrium, and in three patients by curettage of the bony lesion. Results: Follow-up has ranged from 2 years to 27 years. All the tubercular lesions had healed. Conclusion: The diagnosis of manubrial lesions is easy because of their superficial location and the treatment of tuberculosis infection gave excellent results.