Cranial Melioidosis with Extradural Extension

A 32-year-old diabetic male, with a past history of head injury and seizures, presented with a painful swelling over his forehead present for the past three months. Cranial MRI demonstrated the presence of a scalp collection with extradural extension through a bony defect. Biopsy from the area showed caseating necrosis suggestive of tuberculosis. Although the patient failed to return for initiation of anti-tubercular therapy for the next 11 months, the swelling did not progress, and there were no constitutional symptoms. The indolent nature of the swelling prompted re-evaluation and delayed cultures of pus from the collection grew Burkholderia pseudomallei.