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Tuberculous Arthritis in Children

Diagnosis by Needle Biopsy of the Synovium

Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons

Suzanne C. Li

Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons

Carrie Ruzal-Shapiro

Department of Radiology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons

Howard Kiernan

Department of Orthopedics, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons

May Parisien

Pathology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York

Alan Shapiro

New York Children's Health Project, Division of Community Pediatrics, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York

In two children ages 8 months and 4 years, tuberculous synovitis of the knee was suggested by pathologic examination of synovial tissue obtained through needle biopsy. Culture of the biopsy material was positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in one case. In this child, the tuberculin test was negative, in the absence of anergy, at the time the child was first evaluated, and the primary lung lesion was not identified by the radiologist.Tuberculous synovitis has not previously been recognized as part of primary tuberculosis during the early weeks when the tuberculin skin test may be negative. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a sensitive modality for demonstrating joint fluid, synovial hypertrophy, and associated osteomyelitis, if present. With the increasing frequency of cases of tuberculosis in the population, greater awareness of the risk of tuberculous arthritis in childhood is important in order to recognize this unusual presentation. If negative early on, the tuberculin skin test should be repeated after 6 weeks of arthritis. A needle biopsy of the synovium is helpful and appropriate in all children with monoarticular arthritis who have a positive tuberculin skin test.

Clinical Pediatrics, Vol. 33, No. 6, 344-348 (1994)
DOI: 10.1177/000992289403300606


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