Extrapulmonary Tb

Most Cited Article

During the year long Centenary Celebrations of the IJMR (from July 2012 to July 2013) 13 top articles
published during the last five decades in the IJMR and ranked 1-13 on the basis of number of citations received,
will be reproduced one in each issue under the Section “Most Cited Articles”.
This issue carries an article ranked 8 and was published in 2004, and received 80 citations.
[Sharma SK, Mohan A. Extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Indian J Med Res. 2004 Oct;120(4):316-53]

Review Article

Indian J Med Res 120, October 2004, pp 316-353

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis
S.K. Sharma & A. Mohan*
Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi & *Department of Emergency
Medicine, Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences, Tirupati, India
Received September 25, 2003
Extrapulmonary involvement can occur in isolation or along with a pulmonary focus as in the
case of patients with disseminated tuberculosis (TB). The recent human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) pandemic has resulted in changing
epidemiology and has once again brought extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) into focus.
EPTB constitutes about 15 to 20 per cent of all cases of tuberculosis in immunocompetent patients
and accounts for more than 50 per cent of the cases in HIV-positive individuals. Lymph nodes
are the most common site of involvement followed by pleural effusion and virtually every site
of the body can be affected. Since the clinical presentation of EPTB is atypical, tissue samples
for the confirmation of diagnostic can sometimes be difficult to procure, and the conventional
diagnostic methods have a poor yield, the diagnosis is often delayed. Availabiity of computerised
tomographic scan, magnetic resosnance imaging laparoscopy, endoscopy have tremendously
helped in anatomical localisation of EPTB. The disease usually responds to standard
antituberculosis drug treatment. Biopsy and/or surgery is required to procure tissue samples for
diagnosis and for managing complications. Further research is required for evolving the most
suitable treatment regimens, optimal duration of treatment and safety when used with highly
active antiretroviral treatmenrt (HAART).
Key words Abdominal tuberculosis - bone and joint tuberculosis - disseminated tuberculosis - extrapulmonary tuberculosis genitourinary tuberculosis - laryngeal tuberculosis - lymph node tuberculosis - miliary tuberculosis - neurological tuberculosis pericardial tuberculosis - tuberculosis in otorhinolaryngology - tuberculosis meningitis - tuberculosis pleural effusion

too exhaustive, an attempt is made to provide a
critical overview of the more commonly encountered
forms of EPTB in this review.

Tuberculosis can involve any organ system in the
body. While pulmonary tuberculosis is the most
common presentation, extrapulmonary tuberculosis
(EPTB) is also an important clinical problem1-3. The
term EPTB has been used to describe isolated
occurrence of of tuberculosis at body sites other than
the lung. However, when an extrapulmonary focus
is evident in a patient with pulmonary tuberculosis,
such patients have been categorized under pulmonary
tuberculosis as per the guidelines of the World Health
Organization (WHO) 4 . Since tuberculosis can
virtually involve any organ system and a detailed
description regarding EPTB at each of these sites is

Epidemiology
In the era before the human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV) pandemic, and in studies involving
immunocompetent adults, it has been observed that
EPTB constituted about 15 to 20 per cent of all cases
of TB (Fig.1a)1,5-13. In HIV-positive patients, EPTB
accounts for more than 50 per cent of all cases of
TB (Fig.1b)14-22. The diagnosis of EPTB, especially
316

SHARMA & MOHAN: EXTRAPULMONARY TB

involving deeply located inaccessible areas is very
difficult. Sparse literature is available regarding the
relative contributions of pulmonary and
extrapulmonary disease to the total number of
tuberculosis cases from India as reliable
epidemiological data are lacking13. Considering the
stigma associated with and the reluctance to perform
invasive procedures especially in HIV-positive
patients in the Indian setting, even notified estimates
of EPTB under the Revised National Tuberculosis
Control Programme (RNTCP) are often based on
presumptive diagnosis and are an overestimate of the
problem 23 . Though it is estimated that EPTB
constitutes 15 to 20 per cent of tuberculosis cases in
general practice among HIV-negative adults in
India13, a higher proportion of EPTB cases have
been documented in tertiary care centres. For
example, at the Tuberculosis Clinic at the All India
Institute of Medical Sciences, (AIIMS), New Delhi
(n=1137) and the Sri Venkateswara Institute of
Medical Sciences (SVIMS), Tirupati (n=612),
patients with EPTB constituted 53 and 30.4 per cent
respectively during the period 1994-2002
(unpublished observations). Since several patients are
referred to tertirary care centres for confirmation of
diagnosis, these high figures could be a result of
referral bias.
Impact of human immunodeficiency virus infection:
HIV infected persons are at increased risk for primary
or reactivation tuberculosis 24-27 and for second
episodes of tuberculosis from exogenous
reinfection 28,29 . CD4+ T-helper (Th) cells, upon
antigenic challenge, are thought to differentiate along
the separate pathways resulting in cell populations
with different cytokine production profile termed Th1
and Th230-32. In murine models, Th1 cells that produce
interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) confer
resistance to infection with mycobacteria 32,33. Th2
cells that produce interleukin-3 (IL-3), interleukin-4
(IL-4), interleukin-5 (IL-5), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and
interleukin-10 (IL-10), do not contribute much to
antimycobacterial immunity24,32. It has been observed
that when peripheral blood lymphocytes from
HIV-positive patients with tuberculosis are exposed
in vitro to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, they produce
less IFN-γ but similar amounts of IL-4 and IL-10 as
compared with lymphocytes from tuberculosis

317

patients who are HIV-negative34. Thus, reduced Th1
response observed in HIV-infected patients is
thought to increase their susceptibility to
tuberculosis24,34.
The risk of tuberculosis increases as
immunosuppression progresses 2,14,19,35 . The most
common extrapulmonary site in HIV-positive
individuals
is the lymph node. However,
neurological, pleural, pericardial, abdominal
involvement has been described and virtually every
site in the body can be involved in HIV-positive
patients1,2,14,19,35. In studies reported from India, EPTB
constituted 45 to 56 per cent of all the cases of
tuberculosis in persons with AIDS36,37.
Constitutional symptoms
Patients with EPTB may manifest constitutional
symptoms such as fever, anorexia, weight loss,
malaise and fatigue. In India patients with EPTB
especially when the disease is located at an obscure
site, may present with pyrexia of unknown origin
(PUO) and this may be the only diagnostic clue in
them. In addition, patients with EPTB manifest
sympyoms and signs related to the organ system
involved and these are discussed under the repective
anatomic sites.
Lymph node tuberculosis
Historically, lymph node tuberculosis (LNTB) has
been called the “King’s evil” referring to the divine
benediction which was presumed to be the treatment
for it. It was also referred to as “scrofula” meaning
“glandular swelling” (Latin) and “full necked sow”
(French)38. Peripheral lymph nodes are most often
affected and cervical involvement is the most 38-40.
In India and other developing countries LNTB
continues to be the most common form of EPTB and
lymphadenitis due to non-tuberculous mycobacteria
(NTM) is seldom seen41-43. On the other hand, NTM
are the most common cause of lymphadenopathy in
the developed world 44,45 . In patients with
mycobacterial lymphadenitis in the USA,
M. tuberculosis has been the most common pathogen
among adults whereas NTM were the most common

318

INDIAN J MED RES, OCTOBER 2004

Fig.1a. Distribution of tuberculosis cases by anatomical site in HIV-negative patients. Data derived from references 3,5,6,10,11.
PTB, pulmonary tuberculosis; EPTB, extrapulmonary tuberculosis; GUTB, genitourinary tuberculosis; MTB, miliary tuberculosis;
TBM, tuberculosis meningitis; ABD, abdominal tuberculosis; LNTB, lymph node tuberculosis.

Fig.1b. Distribution of tuberculosis cases by anatomical site in HIV-positive patients data derived from references 14-22.
PTB, pulmonary tuberculosis; EPTB, extrapulmonary tuberculosis; LNTB, lymph node tuberculosis.

SHARMA & MOHAN: EXTRAPULMONARY TB

pathogens among children46. In England, there has
been a decline in LNTB and a rise in NTM
lymphadenitis47, and persons of Indian ethnic origin
were more often affected than the local residents40,47.
Similar results have been reported among native
Americans and in persons originating from south east
Asia and Africa48,49. Asians and Hispanic patients
and African American also seem to have a high
predilection for developing mycobacterial
lymphadenitis 48,49.
Pathogenesis: LNTB is considered to be the local
manifestation of a systemic disease whereas NTM
lymphadenitis is thought to be a truly localised
disease. M. tuberculosis gains entry into the body
via the respiratory tract and undergoes
haematogenous and lymphatic dissemination. Hilar
and mediastinal lymph nodes are initially involved.
This may occur at the time of primary infection or
may occur later in life due to reinfection or
reactivation of previous infection. Sometimes, tonsil
is an important portal of entry. The infection then
spreads via the lymphatics to the draining cervical
lymph nodes. Initially, the nodes are discrete.
Periadenitis results in matting and fixation of the
lymph nodes. The lymph nodes coalesce and break
down due to formation of caseous pus. This may
perforate the deep fascia and present as a collar-stud
abscess. Overlying skin becomes indurated and
breaks down, resulting in sinus formation which may
remain unhealed for years. Healing may occur from
each of the stages with calcification and scarring. In
contrast NTM, gain entry into the lymph nodes
directly via oropharyngeal mucosa, salivary glands,
tonsils, gingiva or conjunctiva46,50, and lymph node
involvement represents a localised disease.
Clinical presentation: LNTB often affects children
and young adults40-42. Female predilection has been
reported in some studies 40-42,51,52. Patients usually
present with slowly enlarging lymph nodes and may
otherwise be asymptomatic. In HIV-negative patients,
isolated cervical lymphadenopathy is most often seen
in about two-thirds of the patients 40-42,51,52 . Bem
et al53 observed that among HIV-negative as well as
HIV-positive patients, cervical lymph nodes were
most commonly affected followed by axillary and
inguinal lymph nodes. Multifocal involvement was

319

observed in 39 and 90 per cent among HIV-negative
and HIV-positive patients respectively. In HIVpositive patients, multifocal involvement,
intrathoracic and intraabdominal lymphadenopathy
and associated pulmonary disease are more
common 40-42,53,54 . Some patients with LNTB may
manifest systemic symptoms and these include fever,
weight loss, fatigue and occasionally night sweats.
Patients with mediastinal lymphadenopathy
(Fig.2a and 2b) may present with cough and
dysphagia 40-42,51-58 . With wider availability of
computerised tomographic (CT) scan, it is expected
that more cases of intrathoracic and intraabdominal
lymphadenopathy and other associated lesions
(Fig.2c and 2d) may be reported.
Peripheral tuberculosis lymphadenopathy has
been classified into five stages59. These include: (i)
stage 1, enlarged, firm mobile discrete nodes showing
non-specific reactive hyperplasia; (ii) stage 2, large
rubbery nodes fixed to surrounding tissue owing to
periadenitis; (iii) stage 3, central softening due to
abscess formation; (iv) stage 4, collar-stud abscess
formation; and (v) stage 5, sinus tract formation.
Physical findings depend upon the stage of the
disease. The enlarged lymph nodes may be of varying
size, are usually firm and may be discrete or matted.
If necrosis and abscess formation have taken place
they may become cystic in consistency. The lymph
nodes are usually not tender unless secondary
bacterial infection has occurred. Physical
examination may be unremarkable but for palpable
lymphadenopathy. Occasionally, lymph node abscess
may burst leading to a chronic non-healing sinus and
ulcer formation. Classically, tuberculosis sinuses
have thin, bluish, undermined edges with scanty
watery discharge. Uncommon manifestations
observed in patients with mediastinal lymph node
involvement include dysphagia 60,61 , oesophagomediastinal fistula 62-64 , and tracheo-oesophageal
fistula 65. Upper abdominal and mediastinal lymph
nodes may cause thoracic duct obstruction and
chylothorax, chylous ascites or chyluria66,67. Rarely,
biliary obstruction due to enlarged lymph nodes can
result in obstructive jaundice 68. Cardiac tamponade
has also been reported due to mediastinal lymph node
tuberculosis69.

320

INDIAN J MED RES, OCTOBER 2004

Fig.2. Contrast enhanced computerized tomographic (CECT) scan of the chest of a young woman who presented with low grade
fever for 3 months, cough and dysphagia showing subcarinal (a) and right hilar (b) lymph nodes. Arrows points to hypodensity
which indicates necrosis in the lymph node. CECT scan of the abdomen of the same patient showing bilateral psoas abscesses
(c) (arrows). Coronal reconstruction of the CECT scan of the abdomen of the same patient showing bilateral psoas abscesses
(d) (arrows). CT guided fine needle aspirate from the psoas abscess revealed numerous acid-fast bacilli.

SHARMA & MOHAN: EXTRAPULMONARY TB

Nontuberculous mycobacterial lymphadenitis: Very
little is known regarding lymphadenitis due to NTM
from India. In the western literature, NTM
lymphadenitis has often been described in children.
Both sexes are equally affected 48,50,59,70. Constitutional
symptoms seldom develop and the disease generally
remains localised to the upper cervical area. If
untreated, the nodes often progress to softening,
rupture, sinus formation, healing with fibrosis and
calcification 48,50,59,70.
Pleural effusion and empyema thoracis
Tuberculosis pleural effusion is categorised as
extrapulmonary despite an intimate anatomic
relationship between pleura and the lungs71-75.
Pathogenesis: It is thought that a small subpleural
focus ruptures into the pleural space, setting up an
interaction between the tubercle bacilli or their
specific components inducing a delayed
hypersensitivity reaction. Recent evidence suggests
that patients with TB pleural effusion have
significantly higher levels of IFN-γ in the pleural
fluid as compared to peripehral blood thus exhibiting
localisation of predominantly Th1-type immunity in
the pleural fluid75. Rupture of a cavity containing
caseous material into the pleural space results in
empyema thoracis. Less often, rupture of caseous
paratracheal lymph nodes, paravertebral abscess or
osteomyelitis of the ribs can result in empyema
thoracis.
Clinical features: TB pleural effusion usually
presents as an acute illness and the symptom duration
ranges from a few days to few weeks. Most patients
complain of pleuritic chest pain, non-productive
cough and dyspnoea. Majority of the patients
manifest fever, though a few may not have fever.
Occasionally, the onset may be less acute, with only
mild chest pain, low-grade pyrexia, cough, weight
loss and loss of appetite.
Patients with tuberculosis empyema present with
chest pain, breathlessness, cough with expectoration,
fever, and toxaemia. Anaemia and hypoproteinaemia
are often present. Physical examiantion may reveal
digital clubbing, clinical findings suggestive of effusion

321

and intercostal tenderness. Occasionally, tuberculosis
empyema may present as a chest wall mass or draining
sinus tract (tuberculosis empyema necessitatis).
Abdominal tuberculosis
Abdominal tuberculosis is the term used to
encompass TB of the gastrointestinal tract,
peritoneum, omentum, mesentery and its nodes and
other solid intra-abdominal organs such as liver,
spleen and pancreas76. Peritoneal and intestinal TB
have been covered in another review article published
in this issue of the journal 77. Hence, TB at other
abdominal sites such as hepatobiliary, pancreatic and
splenic tuberculosis will be covered.
Hepatobiliary, pancreatic and splenic tuberculosis
Hepatobiliary and pancreatic TB are rare and are
often associated with miliary tuberculosis, and occur
more often in immunocompromised patients 78. The
clinical manifestations are non-specific and depend
on the site and extent of disease. Anorexia, malaise,
low grade fever, weight loss, night sweats, malaena,
pancreatic mass or abscess or obstructive jaundice
have all been described 79,80 . Pancreatic TB may
present as acute or chronic pancreatitis or may mimic
malignancy79,80. Isolated splenic tuberculosis is very
rare in immunocompetent persons. Splenomegaly can
occur in patients with disseminated/miliary
tuberculosis. Splenic tuberculosis presents as
hypersplenism or splenic abscess or as a solitary
splenic lesion81. Multiple tuberculosis abscesses have
been described in patients with HIV infection82,83. Preoperative diagnosis of tuberculosis at these obscure
sites is difficult and the diagnosis is often confirmed
on histopathological examination of excised
specimen.
Neurological tuberculosis
Neurological tuberculosis may be classified into
three clinico-pathological categories: tuberculosis
meningitis (TBM), tuberculoma, and arachnoiditis84-86.
Tuberculosis meningitis
TBM accounts for 70 to 80 per cent of cases of

322

INDIAN J MED RES, OCTOBER 2004

neurological tuberculosis84-86. A majority of cases of
TBM are caused by M. tuberculosis. Isolated cases
of meningitis caused by NTM have also been
documented86. Neurological tuberculosis is invariably
secondary to tuberculosis elsewhere in the body. In
the bacteraemic phase of primary lung infection,
metastatic foci can get established in any organ, which
can become active after a variable period of clinical
latency. The critical event in the development of
meningitis is the rupture of a subependymally located
tubercle (Rich focus) resulting in the release of
infectious material into the subarachnoid space87.
Whether the critical subependymal tubercle develops
during primary haematogenous dissemination or due
to secondary haematogenous spread from an area of
extracranial extrapulmonary tuberculosis is not clear.
The following features comprise the salient
pathological features of TBM: (i) inflammatory
meningeal exudate; (ii) ependymitis; (iii) vasculitis;
(iv) encephalitis; and (v) disturbance of cerebrospinal
fluid (CSF) circulation and absorption.
Clinical features: In the developing world, TBM is
still a disease of childhood with the highest
incidence in the first three years of life86. The disease
usually evolves gradually over two to six weeks.
However, acute onset has also been described. The
prodromal phase lasts for two to three weeks and
is characterised by a history of vague ill-health,
apathy, irritability, anorexia and behavioural
changes. With the onset of meningitis, headache and
vomiting become evident and fever develops. Focal
neurological deficits and features of raised
intracranial tension may precede signs of meningeal
irritation. Focal or generalised seizures, are
encountered in 20 to 30 per cent of patients. Cranial
nerve palsies can occur in 20 to 30 per cent of
patients, the sixth nerve involvement being the most
common 86,88. Complete or partial loss of vision is a
major complication of TBM. Various mechanisms
postulated for the loss of vision include presence of
exudates around the optic chiasma, arteritis,
compression of the anterior visual pathways due to
hydrocephalus or tuberculoma, and ethambutol
toxicity among others. In untreated cases,
progressive deterioration in the level of
consciousness, pupillary abnormalities and
pyramidal signs may develop due to increasing

hydrocephalus and tentorial herniation. The terminal
illness is characterised by deep coma and
decerebrate or decorticate posturing. Without
treatment, death usually occurs in five to eight
weeks.
According to the severity of the illness, patients
with TBM can be categorised into three clinical
stages. The clinical staging helps to optimise therapy
and to predict the prognosis. The prognosis of TBM
is determined by the clinical stage at the time of
initiation of treatment. The Medical Research
Council89 and Kennedy and Fallon systems 90 stage
the patients into three categories: stage 1, patients
are conscious and oriented with or without signs of
meningeal irritation, but no focal neurological deficit;
stage 2, patients with altered sensorium or focal
deficits; and stage 3, patients are comatose and have
dense deficits. During the last two decades, the
clinical presentation of TBM has changed 91,92 .
Atypical presentations include acute meningitic
syndrome simulating pyogenic meningitis,
progressive dementia, status epilepticus, psychosis,
stroke syndrome, locked-in-state, trigeminal
neuralgia, infantile spasm and movement
disorders 86,88,93.
Intracranial tuberculomas and single, small,
enhancing brain lesions
Tuberculoma is a mass of granulation tissue made
up of a conglomeration of microscopic small
tubercles 84. The size of cerebral tuberculomas is
highly variable. In most cases their diameters range
from a few millimetres (mm) to three to four
centimeters (cm) 94 . Intracranial tuberculomas in
patients under the age of 20 yr are usually
infratentorial, but supratentorial lesions predominate
in adults. Solitary tuberculomas are more frequent
than multiple lesions. Although their frequency has
decreased in the last two to three decades,
tuberculomas still constitute about 5 to 10 per cent
of intracranial space occupying lesions in the
developing world 86,95. Patients with epilepsy who
showed ring enhancing single CT lesions have been
described almost exclusively from India96-100. The
enhancing lesion is < 2 cm, but may show
considerable oedema around it. Tuberculosis has been

SHARMA & MOHAN: EXTRAPULMONARY TB

323

Fig.3a and 3b. Chest radiograph (postero-anterior view) of a patient with tuberculosis pericardial effusion showing a globular
heart shadow (a) before treatment. Chest radiograph taken 9 months after antituberculosis treatment (b) reveals considerable
resolution of the pericardial effusion.

implicated as one of the causes for this form of
presentation.
Neurological involvement is five times more
frequent in HIV-positive compared to HIV-negative
patients101,102. HIV infected patients account for over
50 per cent of the cases of TBM seen in the
industrialised nations101,102. Bishburg et al102 reported
that intravenous drug abusers with AIDS exhibited
increased risk of developing neurological
tuberculosis and brain abscesses. Yechoor et al103
found that 20 of the 31 patients (65%) identified as
definite or probable TBM over a 12 yr period were
infected with HIV. In general, HIV status does not
alter the clinical manifestations, CSF findings and
response to therapy 103 . However, HIV-positive
subjects with TBM can have normal CSF more
frequently101-103.
Pericardial tuberculosis
Pericardial involvement in tuberculosis may result
in acute pericarditis, chronic pericardial effusion,
cardiac tamponade or pericardial constriction104-107.
In India, TB accounts for nearly two-thirds of the
cases of constrictive pericarditis104-106. TB has been
reported to be the cause of acute pericarditis in four
per cent of patients in the developed world and 60 to
80 per cent of the patients in the developing
world 104-110. TB pericarditis has been estimated to
occur in one to eight per cent patients with
pulmonary tuberculosis 111,112 . In industrialised
countries TB pericarditis is not so common except

in patients with HIV infection and AIDS104.
Pericardial involvement most commonly results
from direct extension of infection from adjacent
mediastinal lymph nodes, or through lymphohaematogenous route from a focus elsewhere. TB
pericarditis has the following stages: (i) dry stage;
(ii) effusive stage; (iii) absorptive stage; and (iv)
constrictive stage 112 . The disease may progress
sequentially from first to fourth stage or may present
as any of the stages. Sometimes, pericardial TB can
persent as fever with no clinical localisation. Presence
of cardiomegaly on the chest radiograph may be the
only diagnostic clue and echocardiography may
reveal pericardial effusion.
Clinical features: TB pericarditis occurs most
commonly in the third to fifth decade of life. The
disease has an insidious onset and presents with fever,
malaise and weakness. The patients may manifest
pericardial rub, vague chest pain or cardiomegaly on
a chest radiograph (Figs.3a and 3b). Acute onset has
been reported in 20 per cent of patients and some
patients can present with cardiac tamponade106,107.
Dyspnoea, cough, and weight loss are common
symptoms. Chest pain, orthopnoea and ankle oedema
occur in nearly 40 to 70 per cent of patients113-116.
Pericardial effusion: Patients with TB pericarditis
usually
present with chronic pericardial
104,113,115,116
. Patients may also present acutely
effusion
with cardiac tamponade and may manifest severe
distress, retrosternal compression, tachycardia and

324

INDIAN J MED RES, OCTOBER 2004

Fig.3c, 3d and 3e. Contrast enhanced CT scan of the chest of a patient with constrictive pericarditis showing thickened pericardium
(black arrow) and dilated right atrium (white arrow) (c). Right and left ventricular pressure tracings (paper speed 100 mm/sec and
100 mm Hg gain) of the same patient showing markedly elevated and equal diastolic pressures with mild elevation of right ventricular
systolic pressure (45 mm Hg) (d). Operative photograph showing thickened pericardium (e).

raised jugular venous pressure (JVP) with blunt γ
descent113,115,116, distant heart sounds, pericardial rub
and pulsus paradoxus may be evident.
Effusive constrictive pericarditis: In patients with
effusive constrictive pericarditis, constriction can be
due to thickening of either the visceral or the parietal
pericardium. Cardiomegaly, pedal oedema and raised
JVP with a blunt γ descent may be present. After
removal of fluid, JVP is still raised with a prominent
γ descent. This stage could occur within few weeks
of TB pericarditis. With effective antituberculosis
treatment, some cases may resolve. Commonly,
chronic constriction ensues107,117,118.
Chronic constrictive pericarditis: In patients with
chronic constrictive pericarditis, the inflow of blood
is impeded due to thickened unyielding pericardium,
especially in the late diastole (Figs 3c, 3d and 3e).
Consequently, these patients have systemic as well
as pulmonary venous congestion and manifest

exertional dyspnoea, orthopnoea, ankle oedema and
ascites. Cardiac output is mildly reduced at rest.
Tachycardia, raised JVP with a prominent y descent
occur. The JVP may rise further on inspiration
(Kussmaul’s sign). Pulsus paradoxus is seen in less
than one-third of cases and signifies presence of some
fluid or a relatively elastic pericardium. Cardiac size
is normal. A systolic retraction of apex can be
evident104. A pericardial knock may be present but
murmurs are not common. The ascites is
disproportionate to the oedema (ascites praecox)104.
Severe elevation of venous pressure may result in
congestive splenomegaly and protein losing
enteropathy resulting in hypoalbuminaemia. After
many years of hepatic venous congestion cardiac
cirrhosis may develop in some patients. The disease
worsens gradually and in chronic cases, significant
myocardial atrophy occurs due to extension of
inflammation and possibly disuse of the muscle. Such
patients have suboptimal improvement and higher
mortality with pericardiectomy104.

SHARMA & MOHAN: EXTRAPULMONARY TB

325

Fig.4. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the dorsolumbar spine, (sagittal view, T1 weighted image) showing central
hypointense lesion (arrow) with reduced vertical height of the vertebra (a). MRI scan of the dorsolumbar spine (sagittal view, T2
weighted image) showing destruction of D10 and D11 vertebrae (arrow), reduction in the intervening disc (inset, arrow) with
anterior granulation tissue and cord compression (b).

Bone and joint tuberculosis
Skeletal tuberculosis is a haematogenous infection
and affects almost all bones. Tuberculosis commonly
affects the spine and hip joint119,120. Other sites of
involvement include knee joint, foot bones, elbow
joint and hand bones. Rarely, it also affects shoulder
joint. Two basic types of disease patterns have been
observed: granular and exudative (caseous). Though
both the patterns have been observed in osseous and
synovial tuberculosis infection, one form may
predominate.
Spinal tuberculosis (TB spine) is the most
common form of skeletal tuberculosis. Majority of
patients are under thirty years of age at the time of
diagnosis. Constitutional symptoms such as
weakness, loss of appetite and weight, evening rise
of temperature and night sweats generally occur
before the symptoms related to the spine manifest.
Lower thoracic and lumbar vertebrae are the most
common sites of spinal tuberculosis followed by

middle thoracic and cervical vertebrae. Usually, two
contiguous vertebrae are involved but several
verebrae may be affected and skip lesions are also
seen. The infection begins in the cancellous area of
vertebral body commonly in epiphyseal location and
less commonly in the central or anterior area of
vertebral body (Figs 4a and 4b). The infection spreads
and destroys the epiphyseal cortex, the intervertebral
disc and the adjacent vertebrae (Fig.4b). It may spread
beneath the anterior longitudinal ligament to reach
neighbouring vertebrae. The vertebral body becomes
soft and gets easily compressed to produce either
wedging or total collapse. Anterior wedging is
commonly seen in the thoracic spine where the normal
kyphotic curve accentuates the pressure on the
anterior part of vertebrae. The exudate penetrates the
ligaments and follows the path of least resistance
along fascial planes, blood vessels and nerves, to
distant sites from the original bony lesion as cold
abscess. In the cervical region, the exudate collects
behind prevertebral fascia and may protrude forward
as a retropharyngeal abscess. The abscess may track

326

INDIAN J MED RES, OCTOBER 2004

down to the mediastinum to enter into the trachea,
oesophagus or the pleural cavity. It may spread
laterally into the sternomastoid muscle and form an
abscess in the neck119,120.

patients cord dysfunction may occur due to nonmechanical causes 119,120 .
Clinical presentation of tuberculosis of the hip and
knee joints depends on the clinicopathological stage
and each stage has a definite pattern of clinical
deformity. Pain, circumferential reduction of
movements at the joint are evident. “Night cries” may
develop due to relaxation of muscle spasm and
unguarded movements at the joint 121,122. Tuberculosis
osteomyelitis may mimic chronic mosteomyelitis of
other causes119,120.

In the thoracic spine, the exudate may remain
confined locally for a long time and may appear in
the radiographs as a fusiform or bulbous paravertebral
abscess and may compress the spinal cord. Rarely, a
thoracic cold abscess may follow the intercostal nerve
to appear anywhere along the course of nerve. It can
also penetrate the anterior longitudinal ligament to
form a mediastinal abscess or pass downwards
through medial arcuate ligament to form a lumbar
abscess. The exudate formed at lumbar vertebrae most
commonly enters the psoas sheath to manifest
radiologically as a psoas abscess or clinically as a
palpable abscess in the iliac fossa. Abscess can
gravitate beneath the inguinal ligament to appear on
the medial aspect of thigh. It can spread laterally
beneath the iliac fascia to emerge at the iliac crest
near anterior superior iliac spine. Sometimes an
abscess forms above the iliac crest posteriorly.
Collection can follow the vessels to form an abscess
in Scarpa’s triangle or gluteal region if it follows
femoral or gluteal vessels respectively 119,120.

Genitourinary tuberculosis (GUTB) complicates
three to four per cent of patients with pulmonary
tuberculosis121-124. Haematogenous dissemination from
an active site of infection results in GUTB. Initially
metastatic lesions (tubercles) are formed in the kidneys.
Macroscopic progression of the disease is often
unilateral125. Usually, these lesions heal spontaneously
or as a result of treatment. However, they may enlarge
even after years of inactivity and rupture into the
nephrons producing bacilluria. There is descending
spread of infection, inflammation and scarring.

Retropharyngeal abscess can present with local
pressure effects such as dysphagia, dyspnoea, or
hoarseness of voice. Further, dysphagia may also
occur due to mediastinal abscess. Flexion deformity
of hip develops due to psoas abscess. The abscesses
may be visible and palpable if they are superficially
located. Therefore, neck, chest wall, groin, inguinal
areas and thighs where cold abscesses occur
frequently must be carefully examined in addition to
the location of a bony lesion119,120.

Active GUTB usually develops 5 to 25 yr after
the primary pulmonary infection and is usually
encountered between the second and fourth decades
of life121. Patients present with dysuria, haematuria
which may be painless, flank pain, renal mass, sterile
pyuria, and recurrent urinary tract infection. Rarely,
acute presentation mimicking pyelonephritis has also
been described. Other uncommon presentations
include: non healing wounds, sinuses or fistulae,
haemospermia among others121.

Paraplegia (Pott’s paraplegia) is the most
serious complication of spinal tuberculosis and its
occurrence is reported to be as high as 30 per cent
in patients with spinal tuberculosis 119,120 . Early
onset paraplegia develops during the active phase
of infection. Paraplegia of late onset can appear
many years after the disease has become quiescent
even without any evidence of reactivation. Most
commonly paraplegia develops due to mechanical
pressure on the cord, but in a small number of

Female genital tuberculosis

Genitourinary tuberculosis

Primary female genital tuberculosis has rarely been
described in female partners of males affected by active
GUTB125-128. More often, female genital tuberculosis is
secondary to tuberculosis infection elsewhere in the
body. Haematogenous or lymphatic spread is the most
common method of spread. Infection may also spread
from the contiguous intraabdominal sites through the
fallopian tubes125-128.

SHARMA & MOHAN: EXTRAPULMONARY TB

Female genital tuberculosis is an important cause
of infertility. Patients may also present with chronic
lower abdominal or pelvic pain, or alterations in the
menstrual pattern. Sympotms of tuberculosis
toxaemia may not be evident and physical
examination may be unremarkable126-128.
Cutaneous tuberculosis
Cutaneous tuberculosis accounts for 0.11 to
2.5 per cent of all patients with skin diseases129-133.
Several clinical types of cutaneous tuberculosis have
been described. In those not previously exposed to
M. tuberculosis, miliary tuberculosis of the skin and
tuberculosis chancre have been described. Previously
sensitised hosts develop lupus vulgaris, scrofuloderma,
tuberculosis verrucosa cutis129. Other lesions seen are
tuberculids which include lichen scrofulosorum;
papulonecrotic tuberculid; erythema induratum; and
erythema nodosum. Lupus vulgaris is the most common
variety seen in India followed by tuberculosis verrucosa
cutis and scrofuloderma 129,133. The other types are
distinctly rare. Localised and generalised skin
complications due to Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG)
vaccination have also been described134,135.
In patients with HIV infection and AIDS, the lesions
may not fit into the above described categories and
usually present as papules, nodules, vesicles or
induration129. Ulceration and discharge from the surface
of the lesions may occur. The diagnosis is usually not
suspected clinically and it has been suggested that all
atypical cutaneous lesions developing in
immunosuppressed individuals should be biopsied and
subjected to mycobacterial culture133,136-140.
Tuberculosis in otorhinolaryngology
Before the advent of antituberculosis treatment,
patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis very often
developed laryngeal, otological, nasal and paranasal
sinus involvement and deteriorated progressively.
Laryngeal involvement was a dreaded consequence and
was considered to be a harbinger of death141. With the
advent of effective treatment the incidence of
otorhinolaryngological TB had come down
significantly. Otorhinolaryngological TB constitutes
less than five per cent of all cases of EPTB. Focus has

327

shifted on to otorhinolaryngological TB with the advent
of HIV infection and AIDS142.
Tuberculosis of larynx
In the present era, in countries where TB is highly
endemic, almost all patients with laryngeal
tuberculosis have been found to have radiological
evidence of pulmonary TB and many of them may
be sputum smear-positive142,143. On the contrary, in
countries with a low prevalence of tuberculosis,
associated pulmonary tuberculosis is rarely seen in
patients with laryngeal TB144,145. In a study of 500
patients with pulmonary tuberculosis from India145,
laryngeal involvement was observed in four per cent
of them.
Clinical features: Patients often present with
hoarseness of voice. Pain is also an important feature
which may radiate to one or both ears and may lead
to odynophagia. Occasionally, patients may present
with rapid onset of hoarseness of voice similar to
that encountered in acute viral laryngitis. Laryngeal
tuberculosis may co-exist with carcinoma. Clinical
features of these conditions may overlap and the
lesions may look similar143,144.
Tuberculosis of the pharynx oral cavity and salivary
glands
Tuberculosis involvement of the tonsils and
pharynx is uncommon. The presenting features
include: (i) ulcer on the tonsil or oropharyngeal wall;
(ii) granuloma of the nasopharynx; and (iii) neck
abcess. The oral cavity is an uncommon site of
involvement by tuberculosis. Infection in the oral
cavity is usually acquired through infected sputum
coughed out by a patient with open pulmonary
tuberculosis or by haematogenous spread. Tongue is
the most common site of involvement and accounts
for nearly half the cases. The lesions are usually found
over the tip, borders, dorsum and base of the tongue.
They may be single or multiple, the lesions may or
may not be painful. Other sites of involvement
include floor of mouth, soft palate, anterior pillars
and uvula 146,147 . Secondary involvement of the
draining lymph nodes may occur. Majority of these
patients also have pulmonary tuberculosis144,147-151.

328

INDIAN J MED RES, OCTOBER 2004

TB sialitis is usually secondary to tuberculosis
infection of the oral cavity or primary pulmonary
tuberculosis 151. Primary infection of the salivary
glands is also known, but, is rare. Parotid gland is
most commonly involved. Clinical presentation can
be acute or chronic. Acute presentation may resemble
acute non-tuberculosis sialitis and clinical
differentiation may be difficult. Occasionally, the
diagnosis of tuberculosis may be a surprise following
surgery performed for a suspected salivary gland
tumour151. Unsuspected tuberculosis parotid abscess
may be wrongly drained mistaking it to be a pyogenic
abscess. This may lead to the formation of a persistent
sinus.
Tuberculosis of the ear
Tuberculosis of the external ear is uncommon.
However, lupus vulgaris of the external ear has been
reported152. Tuberculosis of the ear develops when
the bacilli invade the eustachian tube while the infant
is being fed, or, by haematogenous spread to the
mastoid process. The focus in the middle ear cleft
may present as painless otorrhoea. Pale granulation
tissue may be present in the middle ear with dilatation
of vessels in the anterior part of the tympanic
membrane. Multiple perforations of tympanic
membrane may occur as a result of caseation necrosis.
Facial nerve palsy may sometimes develop.
Tuberculosis of paranasal sinuses and nasopharynx
Tuberculosis of nose, paranasal sinuses and
nasopharynx is uncommon. However, occasionally
maxillary sinus may be involved153,154. Other sites
which can be involved include inferior turbinate,
septal mucosa and the vestibular skin. Nasal
discharge, mild pain and partial nasal obstruction are
important presenting features. Involvement of
nasolacrimal duct can rarely occur. Tuberculosis of
the nose can cause complications like septal
perforation, atrophic rhinitis and scarring of nasal
vestibule.
Ocular tuberculosis
Ocular involvement has described in 2 to 30
per cent of patients with tuberculosis 1,7,12,155, and
usually develops as a result of haematogenous
dissemination. While tuberculosis can affect all the
part of the eye, choroid is the most commonly affected

structure. Primary ocular tuberculosis though has
been described is extremely rate 155. Tuberculosis
affects the eyelids infrequently. Lupus vulgaris may
spread to the face and involve the eyelid.
Conjunctival tuberculosis and lupus vulgaris are the
common manifestations of primary tuberculosis
while tuberculids and phlyctenulosis occur in postprimary tuberculosis. Phlyctenulosis can involve
conjunctiva, cornea or lid margin. Tuberculosis has
also been implicated in the causation of Prinaud’s
oculoglandular syndrome and Eale’s disease 155 .
Tuberculosis uveitis can present as panuveitis or as
chronic granulomatous iridocyclitis. Choroidal
tubercles, when present, can provide valuable
diagnostic clues to life threatening forms of
disseminated tuberculosis such as miliary
tuberculosis. These may be single or multiple and
vary in size from quarter of a disc diameter to several
disc diameters and are most frequently situated at
the posterior pole155.
Tuberculosis of the breast
Tuberculosis mastitis can occur as primary disease
or can be secondary to tuberculosis elsewhere in the
body. Primary tuberculosis mastitis is extremely rare
and is thought to occur due to direct inoculation of
the breast by M. tuberculosis through skin abrasions
or duct openings in the nipple. Secondary
involvement of breast is more common. The
organisms may reach the breast through lymphatic
route or haematogenous routes, or by contiguous
spread from the ribs, pleural space. Lymphatic spread
by retrograde extension from the axillary lymph nodes
is considered to be the most common mode of spread
though spread from cervical and mediastinal lymph
nodes has been occasionally reported 83 . Clinical
presentation is atypical and often, histopathological
evidence suggests the diagnosis.
Disseminated/miliary tuberculosis
Disseminated tuberculosis (DTB) refers to
involvement of two or more non-contiguous sites.
Dissemination can occur during primary infection or
after reactivation of a latent focus/re-infection.
During primary infection, small numbers of tubercle
bacilli gain access to the circulation through the
lymphatics and disseminate to visceral sites which
have rich vascular supply and good oxygenation such

SHARMA & MOHAN: EXTRAPULMONARY TB

as the liver, spleen, bone marrow and the brain. These
foci heal by calcification in a majority of the patients.
In the post-primary period, acute miliary tuberculosis
(MTB) can occur when these foci fail to heal and
progress. Later in life, reactivation of these latent foci,
caseation and erosion into blood vessels can result
in haematogenous embolisation and the development
of MTB. Rarely, MTB can also develop due to
caseation of an extrapulmonary site into the portal
circulation and initial hepatic involvement with the
classical pulmonary involvement occurring late.
Clinical presentation: Clinical manifestations of
DTB/MTB are protean36,156-171. Even in areas where
TB is highly endemic, the diagnosis of MTB can be
difficult as the clinical symptoms have been subacute
and non specific and the chest symptoms can be
obscure till late in the disease. Fever and inanition
are relatively common. Cough and dyspnoea are often
present. Chills and rigors, usually seen in patients
with malaria, or, sepsis and bacteraemia have often
been described in patients with MTB 156-171 .
Organomegaly is also a frequent physical finding.
Choroidal tubercles are bilateral pale greyish white
oblong patches which occur less commonly in adult
patients with MTB than children. When present, they
can be a valuable diagnostic clue 160,167 . Skin
involvement in the form of erythematous macules and
papules and unusual manifestations such as ulcerative
lesions have also been described 156-171 . Signs of
hepatic involvement may be evident in the form of
icterus and hepatomegaly. Neurological involvement
in the form of meningitis or tuberculomas is common.
Clinically significant cardiac or renal involvement
are uncommon in patients with MTB 160,172. Overt
adrenal insufficiency at presentation, or during
treatment has also been described173. In some studies,
headache and abdominal pain when present are
supposed to have specific implications in MTB,
headache signifying the presence of meningitis and
abdominal
pain
signifying abdominal
involvement 167,168.
Though the association of MTB and acute lung
injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress sydnrome
(ARDS) is well known, only a few cases of this
association have been published 160,164,174,175. Severe
pulmonary vascular damage has been implicated
to be the pathophysiological basis for the

329

development of ARDS in patients with MTB 176 .
Immune reconstitution disease is a well known
complication of highly active antiretroviral therapy
(HAART). Recently, ARDS developing as a
manifestation of severe immune reconstitution
disease secondary to pulmonary tuberculosis has been
reported 177 . Increases in CD4+ T- lymphocytes
induced by HAART with subsequent inflammation
in tissues affected by ongoing infection have been
postulated to be the mechanism rsponsible for this.
The mortality in ARDS of any cause is high, ranging
from 40 to 60 per cent 171,178,179 . Therefore,
identification of the primary cause is vital to initiate
the appropriate therapy early. In patients with MTB
complicated by ARDS, the classical miliary mottling
occurs less commonly and
bilateral diffuse
interstitial or alveolar infiltrates similar to those
described in ARDS of other causes occur nearly
in all patients160,162,164 which make the diagnosis even
more difficult.
Diagnosis
Methodological issues
Definitive diagnosis of tuberculosis involves
demonstration of M. tuberculosis by microbiological,
cytopathological or histopathological methods.
Clinical presentation of EPTB is atypical. Especially
when the disease involves obscure occult sites, EPTB
may not even be considered in the initial list of
differential diagnosis. Further, invasive methods may
have to be employed to secure tissue/body fluids for
analysis. Many times representative tissue/body fluid
may not be accessible. Even when adequate tissue is
procured, the pathological findings may be suggestive
of “granulomatous infection” which encompasses a
wide range of differential diagnoses rather than
“definitive tuberculosis”. Therefore, the clinicians
more often rely upon the clinical impression,
radiological and endoscopic appearances and nonconventional diagnsotic methods as evidence to
diagnose EPTB.
Principles of diagnosis
When EPTB is suspected as a possible diagnosis,
every attempt should be made to procure
tissue/relevant body fluid for diagnostic testing.

330

INDIAN J MED RES, OCTOBER 2004

Most accessible tissue should be procured
for histopathological, cytopathological and
micrbiological diagnosis. For example, when working
up a patient with suspected lymph node tuberculosis,
the most easily accessible representative peripheral
lymph node should be excised and subjected to
diagnostic testing. Similarly, cerebrospinal fluid
(CSF) and ascitic fluid examination provide most
valuable diagnostic clue in patients with neurological
and peritoneal tuberculosis respectively.

Histopathological, cytopathological
and
microbiologial examination of tissue specimens
and body fluids

With the advent of ultrasound scan and
subsequently CT scan and the magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) and widespread availability of upper
gastrointestinal
endoscopy,
colonoscopy,
laparoscopy, cystoscopy and biopsy under visual
guidance and other invasive investigations such as
hysterosalpingography and colposcopy, tremendous
progress has been achieved in precise anatomical
localisation of the lesions of EPTB antemortem. If
no accessible tissue/fluid is available for analysis,
radiologically guided fine needle aspiration and
cytopathology (FNAC) or biopsy may be required
to secure tissue for diagnosis.

Fine needle aspiration cytopathology (FNAC),
biopsy: In patients with lymph node tuberculosis,
FNAC, excision biopsy of the most accessible
peripheral lymph node confirms the diagnosis
most of the times. CT scan is helpful in
localising intrathoracic and intraabdominal
lymphadenopathy and radiologically guided FNAC
and biopsy 192-200. When available, video-assisted
thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) can be a valuable
minimally invasive procedure to procure tissue for
diagnostic testing in patients with intrathoracic
lymphadenopathy and pleural disease201. Transporting
the collected lymph node specimen in Kirschner’s
transport medium is helpful in increasing the
microbiological yield202. In patients with DTB/MTB,
various invasive methods have been employed to
ascertain the diagnosis their relative diagnostic yield
is shown in Table II.

Tuberculin skin test: In countries like India where
tuberculosis is higly endemic, tuberculin skin test
result alone is not sufficient evidence to diagnose
EPTB in adult patients. Tuberculin positivity in
patients with various forms of EPTB is shown in
Table I.

Laparoscopy will facilitate visual inspection of the
lesions and faciliatate procurement of tissue for
histopathological confirmation of the diagnosis 76.
These details are discussed in elsewhere in this
issue 77.

Table I. Tuberculin positivity in various forms of extrapulmonary tuberculosis
Site

Tuberculin positive (%)

Lymph node tuberculosis33,34,36,180,181

74-98

Pleural effusion

73-93

75,180,182-184

Abdominal tuberculosis 185-189

58-100

Pericardial 115,190

75-100

Cutaneous tuberculosis

133

DTB/MTB 156,166,169,180,191
Numbers in superscript indicate reference numbers
DTB, diseminated tuberculosis
MTB, miliary tuberculosis

67
21-62

331

SHARMA & MOHAN: EXTRAPULMONARY TB
Table II. Method of confirmation of diagnosis in patients with disseminated/miliary tuberculosis*
Maartens
et al166

Sharma
et al160

Prout and
Benatar 191

Biehl 169

Kim et al165

Cumulative
yield (%)

Sputum †

29/75

10/88

31/39

13/26

25/33

41.4

Bronchoscopy‡†

38/95

2/37

3/3

ND

12/19

35.7

Gastric lavage †

7/11

ND

ND

20/35

6/8

61.1

CSF†

14/44

ND

1/31

15/45

0/26

20.5

Urine†

5/28

ND

3/17

7/29

18/27

32.0

Bone marrow§†

18/22

3/11

20/21

ND

9/22

58.1

Liver biopsy

11/11

6/9

12/13

ND

11/12

88.9

9/9

16/19

ND

3/3

ND

90.3

Variable

Lymph node biopsy

*Data are shown as number positive/number tested. Criteria for subjecting the patients to these tests not clearly defined in any of
thestudies. Often, more than one test have been performed for confirming the diagnosis. For histopathological diagnosis, presence of
granulomas, caseation and demonstration of acid-fast bacilli have been variously used to define a positive test
†yield from smear and culture
‡includes yield from bronchoscopic aspirate, washings, brushings, bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial lung biopsy
§yield from aspiration and/or trephine biopsy
CSF, cerebrospinal fluid; ND, not described
Superscript numerals denote reference numbers
Table III. Characteristic body fluid findings in patients with various forms of extrapulmonary tuberculosis
Variable

Pleural fluid

Pericardial fluid

Cerebrospinal fluid

Appearance

Straw coloured

Straw coloured or
serosanguinous

Clear early;
Turbid with chronicity

pH

7.3-7.4
Rarely <7.3
Never >7.4

Not well described

Not well described

1000-5000
50-90% lymphocytes,
eosinophils <5%
Few mesothelial cells

Not well described
Leukocyte count is usually
increased. PMN
preponderant early. Later,
up to mononuclear cells
predominate

100-500
Rarely >1000
PMN preponderant
early. Later, up to 95%
Mononuclear

Protein

Usually high (>2.5g/dl)

Usually high

Usually high (100-500 mg/dl)
Can be very high with
blockage or extreme
chronicity

Glucose

Usually less than serum
concentration

Low

Usually 40-50 mg/dl
(about 50% of blood
glucose)

Cell count
Total count
Differential
count
Cytology

PMN, polymorphonuclear leukocytes
Data derived from references 71-75,84-86,88,104,113,115,117,180
Details regarding ascitic fluid are described in reference 77

332

INDIAN J MED RES, OCTOBER 2004

Table IV. Yield of various tissues and body fluid specimens by the conventional smear and culture methods in patients with
extrapulmonary tuberculosis
Variable

Pleural fluid

Pericardial fluid

Cerebrospinal fluid

Smear microscopy

< 10%

< 1%

5-37%

Mycobacterial culture

12-70%

25-60%

40-80%

Data derived from references 71-75,84-86,88,104,113,115,117,180

Examination of body fluids and other biochemical
tests
The characteristic features of various body fluids
and their yield by the conventional microbological,
histopathological, cytopathological, and nonconventional methods in patients with EPTB is shown
in Tables III-VI.

Fig.5. Chest radiograph (postero-anterior view) showing right
sided pleural effusion.

Pleural fluid: The pleural fluid is typically clear or
straw coloured, but cloudy or serosanguinous fluid
may also be obtained. The pleural fluid is exudative
and lymphocyte rich. Early in the disease, the pleural
fluid may reveal predominantly neutrophils, but on
serial thoracocenteses, lymphocytosis may become
evident71-75. Presence of a large number of mesothelial
cells (> 1% of white blood cells) is a strong evidence
against the diagnosis of tuberculosis, though, a few
cases with numerous mesothelial cells in the fluid
have been reported71-75 .

Fig.6. Chest radiograph (postero-anterior view) showing left sided encysted pleural effusion (a) Contrast enhanced CT scan of the
chest of the same patient (b) showing left sided loculated empyema surrounded by thick enhancing pleura (arrow).

SHARMA & MOHAN: EXTRAPULMONARY TB

333

Fig.7. Chest radiograph (postero-anterior view) showing classical miliary pattern (a). Contrast enhanced CT scan of the chest (b)
showing classical miliary pattern. Branching nodular (2 to 3 mm) and linear opacities resulting in a tree-in-bud appearance can
also be discerned. These nodules resemble millet seeds (c).

Fig.8. Intravenous pyelogram showing calyceal cut-off sign black arrow and ureteral narrowing (white arrow) (a) thimble bladder
(black arrows) (b). Percutaenous nephrogram showing irregularity, narowing and stricture of ureter (white arrow) (c).

334

INDIAN J MED RES, OCTOBER 2004

Fig.9. Contrast enhanced CT scan of the abdomen showing
intraabdominal (a) and retroperitoneal (b) lymphadenopathy
(arrows). Both the white and black arrows point to hypodensity
which indicates necrosis in the lymph node. This central
attenuation with peripheral rim enhancement is considered
classical (though not pathogenomic) for tuberculosis.

Details about ascitic fluid examination are
described eleswhere 77.
Cerebrospinal fluid: Clear CSF with moderately
raised cells and protein and low glucose constitute
the typical CSF picture of TBM. However, these
characteristics are shared by other forms of chronic
meningitis and partially treated pyogenic meningitis.
In the presence of coexisting spinal meningitis and
spinal block the CSF may be xanthochromic. If
allowed to stand, a pellicle or cobweb may form,
indicating the presence of fibrinogen. The pellicle is
highly suggestive but not pathognomonic of TBM.
CSF protein has been reported to be normal in some
patients with AIDS and TBM 84. CSF glucose levels

Fig.10. Contrast enhanced CT scan of the abdomen showing
multiple hypointense areas in the liver and spleen (arrows)
(a), hypodense lesions in the right kidney (arrow) with
extension into the poas and paraspinal muscles (arrow) (b) CT
guided fine needle aspiration confirmed the diagnosis of
tuberculosis.

are abnormal in the majority of cases, being less than
40 per cent of the corresponding blood sugar level.
However, CSF glucose levels are never undetectable
as in patients with pyogenic meningitis.
Pericardial fluid: Echocardiography, pericardiocentesis and examination of pericardial fluid can help
in confirming the diagnosis of pericardial
tuberculosis. The characteristic pericardial fluid
findings in patients with tuberculosis pericarditis are
shown in Table III.
Urine: The yield of urine examination by smear and
culture for detecting the tubercle bacillus is low

SHARMA & MOHAN: EXTRAPULMONARY TB

335

Fig.13. Contrast enhanced MRI of the brain (sagittal view, T1
weighted image) showing solitary enhancing ring lesion
(arrow).
Fig.11. Contrast enhanced (CE) CT head showing basal
meningitis, ventricular dilatation.

probably because of the intermittent shedding of the
baclli. Nevertheless, in patients with suspected
genitourinary tuberculosis, urine examination is
mandatory.
Cold abscess pus: Smear and culture examination of
the pus aspirated from cold abscesses either directly
or under radiological guidance can be rewarding and
must be attempted whenever feasible.
Imaging

Fig.12. Contrast enhanced (CE) CT head showing intracranial
tuberculoma (black arrows) and perilesional oedema (white
arrows).

Plain radiograph: The association of pulmonary
tuberculosis assessed by the chest radiograph in
patients with various forms of EPTB is depicted in
Table VII. In patients with pleural tuberculosis, the
chest radiograph usually reveals a unilateral pleural
effusion (Fig.5). Sometimes the pleural effusion or
empyema can be encysted or multiloculated
(Fig. 6a and 6b). Encysted effusion may be confused
with a mass lesion of the pleura, mediastinum, chest
wall and lungs. Most often encystment occurs in the
costoparietal regions, usually along the posterior
parietal pleural surface on the right side. A lateral
decubitus film may be useful in dstinguishing
subpulmonic encystment from subpulmonic
collection of free fluid as both these conditions

336

INDIAN J MED RES, OCTOBER 2004

Fig.14. Contrast enhanced MRI of the brain (sagittal view, T1 weighted image) showing intramedullary enhancing ring lesion
(arrow) opposite C6 vertebral body (a) before treatment. The lesion resolved completely following nine months of antituberculosis
treatment (b).

present with a raised hemidiaphragm with convexity
lateral than usual with or without a blunted
costophrenic angle. Very rarely, encysted
mediastinal pleural effusion can present as an
unexplained bulge of the mediastinum.
The hallmark of acute disseminated MTB is the
miliary pattern on the chest radiograph (Figs. 7a,
7b and 7c). The term miliary refers to the “millet
seed” size of the nodules (2-3 mm) seen on classical
chest films 158,160. Some patients with MTB, however,
may have normal chest radiographs and some may
have patterns that are indistinguishable from
interstitial pneumonia 160. Some of the patients may
manifest coalescent opacities. When patients with
MTB develop ARDS, the chest radiograph may be
identical to that seen in ARDS due to other
causes 160. In a large study of HIV-negative MTB
patients from New Delhi, majority of the patients
(88%) 160 had chest radiographs consistent with
MTB, and in some these classical radiological
changes evolved over the course of the disease. The
diagnosis of MTB is easier when the patient presents
with classical miliary shadowing on chest
radiograph in an appropriate setting. However, the
diagnosis may be difficult in those situations where

chest radiograph does not show classical miliary
shadows.
Intravenous pyelography (Figs.8a and 8b) and
percutaneous nephrogram (Fig.8c) are useful in
imaging GUTB.
Ultrasonography: Ultrasonography of the chest may
be helpful in demonstrating winding structures of
different lengths which may represent fibrin bands,
mobile delicate septations, regular pleural thickening,
and occasional nodularity amidst the effusion.
Ultrasonography and CT scan (Fig.6b) are useful in
the diagnosis of encysted and multiloculated pleural
effusions.
Computerised tomography and magnetic resonance
Imaging: In patients with pleural effusion and
empyema, contrast enhanced (CE) CT scan of the
thorax may be useful in identifying the underlying
pulmonary lesion, mediastinal, hilar or paratracheal
lymphadenopathy (Figs.2a and 2b) and assessing
the pleural loculation and thickening (Fig.6b).
Sometimes, CECT of the thorax has also been used
to assess pericardial thickening in patient with
pericardial effusion (Fig.3c).

SHARMA & MOHAN: EXTRAPULMONARY TB

Abdominal CT scan scores over ultrasonography
for detecting high density ascites 238-241 .
Retroperitoneal, peripancreatic, porta hepatis and
mesenteric/omental lymph node enlargement may be
evident (Figs9a and 9b). Abdominal CT scan also
detects caseous necrosis of lymph node which appears
as low attenuating, necrotic centres and thick,
enhancing inflammatory rim 238-241. Granulomas or
abscesses in the liver, pancreas and spleen may be
seen (Figs.10a and 10b). In addition to ascites,
mesenteric infiltration, omental masses, peritoneal
enhancement/thickening and disorganised masses of
soft tissue densities may be seen.
In patients with DTB/MTB, CT scan and MRI
scan may reveal evidence of neurotuberculosis,
intraabdominal lymphadenopathy, infiltrative lesions
in liver, spleen and kidney (Fig.10b).
CT scan or MRI of the brain may reveal thickening
and enhancement of basal meninges, hydrocephalus,
infarction, periventricular oedema, and mass lesions due
to associated tuberculoma or tuberculosis abscess
(Figs11 and 12). Common sites of exudates are basal
cisterna ambiens, suprasellar cistern and sylvian fissures.
Serial CT scans are very helpful in assessing the course
of tuberculomas and hydrocephalus. Gadolinium
enhanced MRI is superior to the CT scan in detection
of basal meningeal enhancement and small
tuberculomas (Figs13,14a and 14b). Contrast enhanced
MRI has been found to be superior to the contrast
enhanced CT scan in detection of diffuse and focal
meningeal granulomatous lesions, in delineating focal
infarcts of the basal ganglia and diencephalon. Further,
MRI is superior to CT in defining the presence, location
and extent of associated brainstem lesions. MRI of the
spine is also useful in the diagnosis of lesions of spinal
tuberculosis (Figs 4a and 4b).
If there is a high index of suspicion of the
diagnosis of MTB and the chest radiograph is
atypical, it is suggested that high resolution computed
tomographic scan (HRCT scan) (Fig.7b) be done to
support the diagnosis. HRCT scan is superior to
the conventional CT scan in defining the
parenchymal detail. Further, HRCT of the chest with
contrast can also be useful in detecting lymph nodal
enlargement, calcification and pleural lesions.

337

Details regarding various imaging modalities in
the diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis are described
elsewhere77.
Echocardiography and cardiac catherisation
Echocardiography is useful for detecting the
presence of pericardial fluid and features such as
collapse of right atrial or right ventricular free wall
in diastole which are diagnostic of cardiac
tamponade. In fact, these features may sometimes
precede the other clinical evidence of pericardial
tuberculosis. Echocardiogram, however, is not an
accurate test to detect pericardial thickening. Indirect
echocardiographic signs such as flat posterior left
ventricular wall motion in the diastole, premature
opening of the pulmonary valve, may suggest chronic
constrictive pericarditis 104.
In cardiac tamponade, cardiac catherisation
revelas a prominent γ descent in the right atrial
tracing. In chronic constrictive pericarditis, a
prominent γ descent in the atrial pressure tracing
and a dip-plateau ventricular pressure tracing are
characteristic of chronic constrictive pericarditis.
Cardiac tamponade as well as chronic constrictive
pericarditis produce a similar elevated right and left
atrial, right and left ventricular end-diastolic
pressures 104 (Fig.3d).
Serologial, molecular and other non-conventional
methods
A number of non-conventional diagnostic
methods are often resorted to for diagnosing EPTB.
These test results are relied upon as “concrete
evidence” to initiate or withold antituberculosis
treatment. When many of these non-conventional
methods are validated at the time of initial
introduction, the criteria employed to define the
“gold standard” for diagnosis against which these
methods are standardised would include “a clinical
presentation compatible with tuberculosis” and
“good response to antituberculosis treatment”.
Subsequently, the same diagnostic tests are
recommended for substantiating the clinical
diagnosis. Further, the small sample size and the

338

INDIAN J MED RES, OCTOBER 2004

Table V. Sensitivity and specificity of immunodiagnostic and molecular methods applied to the pleural fluid and
cerebrospinal fluid
Diagnostic method

Pleural fluid

Cerebrospinal fluid

ELISA:
Detection of antibody in the fluid
Sensitivity
Specificity
Detection of antigen in the fluid
Sensitivity
Specificity

0.22 - 0.68a
0.90 -1.00a

0.60 - 0.90b
0.58 - 1.00b

0.48 - 1.00c
0.98 - 1.00c

0.61 - 0.79d
1.00 d

Molecular methods :
Polymerase chain reaction
Sensitivity
Specificity

0.22 - 0.81e
0.77-1.00 e

0.50 - 0.90f
1.00 f

Data
Data
c
Data
d
Data
e
Data
f
Data
a

b

derived
derived
derived
derived
derived
derived

from
from
from
from
from
from

references
references
references
references
references
references

203-207
208-210
205,211-213
214-216
217-220
221-223

Table VI. Sensitivity and specificity of some commonly used non-conventional diagnostic tests in the diagnosis of extrapulmonary
tuberculosis
Test

Pleural fluid

Pericardial fluid

Cutoff ≥

Sensitivity

Specificity

Cutoff ≥

0.88
0.8
0.83
0.40
0.89
1.00
0.91
-

0.86
0.81
0.67
1.00
0.92
0.97
0.81
-

-

-

-

Perez-Rodriguez et al 227
Ocana et al 228
Burgess et al229
Dogan 230
Burgess et al231
Aggeli et al232
Gambhir et al233
Mishra et al234

45.5
48
35
100
40
45
50
-

50
30
72
-

1.00
0.94
1.00
-

IFN-γ
Villegas et al224
Wongtim et al 235
Sharma et al180
Burgess et al231

6*
240†
134†
-

0.86
0.95
0.89
-

0.97
0.96
0.97
-

200†

ADA (IU/l)
Villegas et al224
Reechaipichitkul et al 225
Sharma et al226

* U/ml
† pg/ml
ADA, adenosine deaminase; IFN-γ, interferon-γ

Sensitivity

Cerebrospinal fluid
Specificity

Cutoff ≥

Sensitivity

Specificity

-

-

-

0.83
0.68
0.94
-

8
5

0.44
0.89

0.75
0.92

-

-

-

-

-

1.00

1.00

-

-

-

339

SHARMA & MOHAN: EXTRAPULMONARY TB
Table VII. Associated pulmonary/pleural disease in patients with various froms of extrapulmonary tuberculosis
Site

Abnormal chest radiograph (%)

Lymph node tuberculosis40-42,52,180

5-44

Pleural effusion 71,74,180,182

30-50

Abdominal tuberculosis 186,236,237

20-28
32

Pericardial 113

Table VIII. Treatment regimens for patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis
Treatment category

Intensive phase
(daily or three times a week)

Continuation phase

Severe forms of EPTB

2HRZE (2HRZS)

6HE

(category I)

2H 3R3Z3E3 (2H3R3Z3S3)

4HR
4H 3R 3

Less severe forms of

2HRZ

6HE

EPTB (category III)

2H 3R3Z 3

4HR
4H 3R 3

EPTB, extrapulmonary tuberculosis; R, rifampicin; H, isoniazid; Z, pyrazinamide; E, ethambutol; S, streptomycin
The number before the letters refers to the number of months of treatment. The subscript refers to the number of doses per week.
Some authorities advocate a seven-month continuation phase with daily isoniazid and rifampicin (7HR) for category I patients
with tuberculosis meningitis, military tuberculosis and spinal tuberculosis with neurological signs
Adapted from reference 4

lack of reproducibility of the tests in most studies
render the information generated by these tests
inconclusive 242 . It should be remembered that a
positive non-conventional test may perhaps “rule
in” a diagnsosis, but certainly a negative test cannot
“rule out” a diagnosis of tuberculosis Thus, it is
not suprising that the diagnosis of EPTB is often
delayed or missed.

pulmonary tuberculosis to smear and culture negative
EPTB at inaccessible body sites. However, ELISA
based methods for the detection of mycobacterial
antigens in body fluids have been resorted to most
often for the diagnosis of neurological (CSF) and
pleural tuberculosis (pleural fluid). The diagnostic
yield of ELISA methods in the CSF and pleural fluid
EPTB is listed in Table V.

Immunodiagnostic methods

Applied to blood: The diagnostic utility of
serodiagnostic methods applied to the blood samples
in patients with EPTB is controversial. In a study
from India244, the utility and efficacy of detection of
antimycobacterial antibodies to A60 antigen in serum
and/or CSF was analysed in 100 patients with various
forms of EPTB such as neurotuberculosis, abdominal
tuberculosis and others. The overall positivity rate
for the test was 75 per cent . The positivity rate of
the test in serum and/or CSF was 79.2 per cent in
neurotuberculosis and 62.5 per cent for other forms
of EPTB.

Applied to body fluids: Most often, enzyme linked
immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detecting
mycobacterial
antigens,
antibodies
and
immunecomplexes in the blood and body fluids have
been used in the diagnosis of EPTB. Some workers
have advocated testing for a panel of antigens rather
than single antigens 243 . There are numerous
publications regarding the application of
immunodiagnositc methods for the diagnosis of every
form of tuberculosis ranging from sputum positive

340

INDIAN J MED RES, OCTOBER 2004

Table IX. Summary of recent randomised controlled trials of additional corticosteroid treatment in patients with extrapulmonary
tuberculosis
Study

Patients

Treatment regimen employed

Comments

Prednisone (n=30)
Placebo (n=36)

Rifampicin (10 mg/kg),
isoniazid (8 mg/kg),
pyrazinamide (25 mg/kg)
and pyridoxine (25 mg/kg)
daily for 6 months Oral
prednisone (0.75 mg/kg/day)
for up to 4 wk with gradual
reduction over an additional
2 wk by 5 mg/day

Standard ATT and early complete
drainage is adequate
Addition of prednisone
does not relieve symptoms earlier
nor influence residual pleural
thickening

Galarza et al (1995)252

Prednisone (n=57)
Placebo (n=60)

Isoniazid 5 mg/kg and rifampicin
10 mg/kg daily for six months
Oral prednisone (1 mg/kg/day),
tapered off over 30 days

Corticosteroids do not influence
the rate of reabsorption of the
pleural fluid, the pleural sequelae,
as well as lung capacity

Lee et al (1988)253

Prednisolone (n=21)
Placebo (n=19)

Isoniazid 300 mg/day,
rifampicin 450 mg/day,
ethambutol 20 mg/kg/day
for > 9 months oral prednisolone
0.75 mg/kg/day tapered gradually
over the next 2 to 3 months

Corticosteroids, in conjunction
with ATT will resolve
the clinical symptoms more
quickly and hasten the
absorption of pleural effusion

Dexamethasone (n=75)
Placebo (n=85)

Standardised ATT
Adults: dexamethasone
12 mg/day;
children: 8 mg/day tapered
over 6 wk

The fatality rate, development of
neurologic complications and
permanent sequelae were
significantly lower in
dexamethasone group

Dexamethasone (n=24)
Placebo (n=23)

Standardised ATT
Oral dexamethasone 16mg/day
for 7 days; then 8mg/day
for 21 days

Trend towards survival and milder
sequelae with desamethasone
treatment though the difference
was not statistically significant

Daily streptomycin, isoniazid,
rifampicin, and pyrazinamide
for 14 wk followed by isoniazid
and rifampicin for total a period
6 months

In the absence of a specific
contraindication, ATT should be
initially supplemented by steroids

Rifampicin, isoniazid,
pyrazinamide, and ethambutol
for 2 months, followed by
rifampicin and isoniazid for a
further 4 months in standard
doses Prednisolone (60 mg/day)
tapered by 10 mg/week until
completion at the end of the
sixth week

Adjunctive prednisolone produced
a pronounced reduction in mortality
No difference in the rate of
radiologic and echocardiographic
resolution of pericardial effusion

Pleural effusion:
Wyser et al (1996)251

Tuberculosis meningitis:
Girgis et al (1991)254

Kumaravelu et al
(1994) 255

Pericardial tuberculosis:
Strang et al (1987) 107
Prednisolone (n=53)
Placebo (n=61)

Hakim et al (2000)256

Prednisolone (n=29)
Placebo (n=29)

ATT, Antituberculosis treatment

SHARMA & MOHAN: EXTRAPULMONARY TB
Table X. Complications and sequelae of extrapulmonary
tuberculosis
Lymph node tuberculosis
Scars, sinuses
Tracheo-oesophageal fistula
Oesophageo-mediastinal fistula
Chylothorax
Chylous ascites
Chyluria
Pleural effusion
Pleural thickening, fibrothorax
Empyema thoracis
Empyema necesstantis
Neurological tuberculosis
Raised intracranial tension, cerebral oedema, stupor
Basal meningitis with cranial nerve palsies
Focal neurological deficits
Hydrocephalus
Tuberculoma
Cerebral abscess
Visual loss
Arteritis leading to stroke
Endocrine disturbances
Hypothalamic disorders
Diabetes insipidus
Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone
secretion (SIADH)
Internuclear ophthalmoplegia
Hemichorea
Spinal block
Spinal arachnoiditis
Abdominal tuberculosis
Subacute intestinal obstruction
Perforation and peritonitis
Haemorrhage
Fistula, sinus formation
Pericardial tuberculosis
Cardiac tamponade
Chronic constructive pericarditis
Bone and joint tuberculosis
Compressive myelopathy, paraplegia
Genitourinary tuberculosis
Infertility
Hydronephrosis
Pyonephrosis
Ureteric stricture, stenosis
Urinary bladder related abnormalities (thimble bladder)
Ocular tuberculosis
Visual Loss
Secondary glaucoma
Optic atrophy

341

In another study 245 , the utility of detecting
immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin A
(IgA) against A60 antigen was studied in 42 patients
with confirmed EPTB, none had clinical or
radiological evidence of pulmonary involvement. In
addition, 24 subjects with healed pulmonary or EPTB,
44 patients with a defined disease other than
tuberculosis, and 88 healthy volunteers were studied.
In patients with EPTB, the sensitivity and specificity
of IgG and IgA tests were 0.738 and 0.961; and 0.69
and 0.936 respectively. When both the results were
combined, the sensitivity was 0.809 and the
specificity was
0.923 245 . Detection of
lipopolysaccharide antigen (LPS) has also been found
to be useful in the diagnosis of EPTB207.
Adenosine deaminase: Adenosine deaminase (ADA)
is an enzyme of purine metabolism which catalyses
adenosine into inosine and is found in most human
tissues particularly in the lymphoid tissues. ADA
estimation has been found to be useful in the
diagnosis of tuberculosis pleural effusion and ascites.
High ADA levels have also been reported in effusions
due to rheumatoid arthritis, lymphoma, chronic
lymphatic leukaemia, empyema, parapneumonic
effusions, and mesothelioma74,228. The sensitivity and
specificity of ADA estimation in the diagnosis of
EPTB is shown in Table VI.
ADA exists as two isoenzymes, ADA1 and ADA2,
each with unique biochemical properties. The ADA1
isoenzyme is found in all cells with the highest
activity in lymphocytes and monocytes, whereas
ADA2 isoenzyme appears to be found only in
monocytes 74,228. In tuberculosis pleural effusion,
ADA2 isoenzyme is considered to be primarily
responsible for total ADA activity, while in
parapneumonic effusions, the ADA1 isoenzyme is
the major isoenzyme of ADA 77,229,246 . Thus,
measurement of individual isoenzyme of ADA can
enhance the diagnostic utility of ADA estimation in
pleural effusions.
Interferon-γ: Interferon-y (IFN-γ) is a cytokine
produced by activated T-lymphocytes. It plays a
fundamental role in the immune response to
tuberculosis. High levels of IFN-γ have been
reported in tuberculosis pleural effusions75,180,226,235,
possibly related to in situ stimulation of CD4+ T

342

INDIAN J MED RES, OCTOBER 2004

lymphocytes by tuberculosis antigens. A few studies
have shown a better sensitivity and specificity of
pleural IFN-γ levels as compared to ADA
levels 180,226,235 . The sensitivity and specificity of
IFN-γ in the diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis are
shown in Table VI.
Other non-conventional tests: Lysozyme, a
bacteriolytic protein which is widely distributed in
body fluids and many cells is a marker of general
inflammatory response. Lysozyme estimation has
been found to help in identifying tuberculosis pleural
effusion74.
Molecular methods: Many of the molecular methods
are research tools and are not widely available. Of
these, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has often
been applied to the CSF and pleural fluid to detect
various sequences representing the DNA of
M. tuberculosis (Table V). Though the diagnostic
utility of PCR in blood, other body fluids such as
ascitic fluid, urine, pericardial fluid, pus from cold
abscesses, and tissue biopsy specimens has been
studied, available evidence is far from convincing.
These test results must be interpreted in the
appropriate clinical situation with caution. PCR alone
must not be the sole evidence on which
antituberculosis treatment is initiated or withheld.
Treatment
Antituberculosis drugs
Antituberculosis treatment is the mainstay in the
management of EPTB. However, the ideal regimen
and duration of treatment have not yet been resolved.
While the RNTCP and other National Tuberculosis
Programmes worldover which follow the World
Health Organization’s guidelines, directly observed
treatment, short-course (DOTS) approach, advocates
the use of short-course intermittent chemotherapy for
patients with EPTB also, the reality seems different.
According to the DOTS guidelines4, patients with less
severe forms of EPTB are categorised under
treatment category III and those with severe form of
EPTB are categorised under treatment category I.
Antituberculosis treatment regimens for these
categories are listed in Table VIII. While the six
months treatment may be sufficient for many

patients, each patient has to be individually assessed
and, where relevant, treatment duration may have to
be extended for a given patient 247 . Large scale
prospective controlled trials with a large sample size
are requried to sort out these issues. Patients receiving
antituberculosis treatment should be carefully
monitored for adverse drug reactions, especially drug
induced hepatotoxicity248,249.
Corticosteroids
The usefulness of corticosteroids in the treatment
of EPTB is not well established and controversial250.
When the diagnosis of tuberculosis is established with
certainity, additional oral corticosteroid treatment
may be helpful in selected patients with life
threatening forms of EPTB. Evidence from
randomised controlled trials regarding the usefulness
of adjunctive corticosteroid administration along with
antituberculosis drugs for the treatment of EPTB is
depicted in Table IX.
Methodological issues such as varying
antituberculosis drug regimens used, dosage schedule
of corticosteroids, differences in the disease severity
render meaningful comparison of the results from
various studies difficult. In a recent publication,
Prasad et al 257 critically evaluated the effect of
corticosteroid administration along with
antituberculosis drugs for the treatment of TBM. In
their report, results of six randomised controlled trials
involving 595 patients were evaluated. It was
observed that steroids were associated with fewer
deaths [relative risk (RR) 0.79; 95% confidence
interval (CI) 0.65 to 0.97] and a reduced incidence
of death and severe residual disability (RR 0.58, 95%
CI 0.38 to 0.88). The authors concluded that
adjunctive steroids might be of benefit in patients
with TBM.
In a systematic evaluation of evidence from
randomised and quasi-randomised trials evaluating
the effects of adjunctive corticosteroids in patients
diagnosed with tuberculosis pleural effusion
published recently 258 , three small trials (n=236)
conducted in HIV-negative patients were studied.
There was no difference in residual lung function
between patients with tuberculosis pleural effusion
who received corticosteroid treatment and those who
did not at completion of treatment. The authors felt

343

SHARMA & MOHAN: EXTRAPULMONARY TB

that there is insufficient evidence to know whether
adjunctive corticosteroid treatment is effective in
patients with tuberculosis pleural effusion 258 .
Prospective studies with large sample size involving
HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients are required
to clarify these issues.
Antiretroviral drugs
If co-existent HIV infection is there, the CD4+
and CD8+ T lymphocyte counts must be estimated
and highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART)
must be administered when indicated259. Patients with
EPTB
especially
those
who
are
co-infected with HIV may develop paradoxical
reactions 260 while on ATT. The paradoxical
worsening and the immune reconstitution
syndrome177 when HAART treatment is started must
be distinguished from poor response due to treatment
failure, drug resistance or due to an alternate
diagnosis.
When rifampicin is co-administered along with
antiretroviral drugs, by inducing the hepatic P450
pathway, rifampicin may result in dangerously low
levels of the antiretroviral agents. In this situation,
the available therapeutic options include deferring
HAART until standard antituberculosis treatment is
completed; or, discontinuing HAART and treating
with a standard short-course regimen; deferring or
discontinuing HAART during the initial two month
intensive phase when rifampicin is used; using a nonrifampicin containing regimen for the maintenance
phase and using HAART among others 2,247.

and confirmation of the diagnsosis, early institution
of specific antituberculosis treatment and close
clinical monitoring for adverse drug reactions are the
key to the successful management of EPTB.
References
1.

Fanning A. Tuberculosis: 6. Extrapulmonary disease.
CMAJ 1999; 160 : 1597-603.

2.

Iscman MD. Tuberculosis in relation to human
immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome. In: Iseman MD, editor. A clinician’s guide to
tuberculosis. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and
Wilkins; 2000 p. 199-252.

3.

Dutt AK, Stead WW. Epidemiology. In: Schlossberg D,
editor.Tuberculois and nontuberculous mycobacterial
infection. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company; 1999
p. 3-16.

4.

Maher D, Chaulet P, Spinaci S, Harries A. Treatment of
tuberculosis: guidelines for national programmes.
Geneva: World Health Organization; 1997.

5.

Report from the Medical Research Council Tuberculosis
and Chest Diseases Unit. National survey of tuberculosis
notifications in England and Wales in 1983:
characteristics of disease. Tubercle 1987; 68 : 19-32.

6.

Medical Research Council Cardiothoracic Epidemiology
Group. National survey of notifications of tuberculosis
in England and Wales in 1988. Thorax 1992; 47 : 770-5.

7.

Weir MR, Thornton GF. Extrapulmonary tuberculosis.
Experience of a community hospital and review of the
literature. Am J Med 1985; 79 : 467-78.

8.

Pitchenik AE, Fertel D, Bloch AB. Mycobacterial
disease: epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and
prevention. Clin Chest Med 1988; 9 : 425-41.

9.

Snider DE Jr, Roper WL. The new tuberculosis. N Engl
J Med 1992; 326 : 703-5.

10.

Snider DE, Onorato M. Epidemiology. In: Rossman MD,
MacGregor RR, editors. Tuberculosis: clinical
management and new challenges. New York: McGrawHill;1995 p. 3-17.

11.

Reported tuberculosis in the United States, 1999. Atlanta:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, August 2000.

12.

American Thoracic Society. Diagnostic standards and
classification of tuberculosis in adults and children.
Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2000; 161 : 1376-95.

Surgery
Surgery is often required to procure specimens for
diagnostic testing and to ameliorate complications
such as intestinal perforation and hydrocephalus
where it may be life saving. Details regarding surgical
management of EPTB is beyond the scope of this
review.
Complications
Complications commonly seen in patients with
EPTB are listed in Table X. High index of clincal
suspicion and early institution of specific
antituberculosis treatment can help in reducing the
occurrence of these complications
In conclusion, high index of clinical suspicion,
timely judicious use of invasive diagnostic methods

344

INDIAN J MED RES, OCTOBER 2004

13.

Mohan A, Sharma SK. Epidemiology. In: Sharma SK,
Mohan A, editors. Tuberculosis. New Delhi: Jaypee
Brothers Medical Publishers; 2001 p.14-29.

24.

Havlir DV, Barnes PF. Tuberculosis in patients with
human immunodeficiency virus infection. N Engl J Med
1999; 340 : 367-73.

14.

Raviglione MC, Narain JP, Kochi A. HIV-associated
tuberculosis in developing countries: clinical features,
diagnosis and treatment. Bull World Health Organ
1992; 70 : 515-25.

25.

15.

Theuer CP, Hopewell PC, Elias D, Schecter GF,
Rutherford GW, Chaisson RE. Human immunodeficiency
virus infection in tuberculosis patients. J Infect Dis 1990;
162 : 8-12.

Daley CL, Small PM, Schecter GF, Schoolnik GK,
McAdam RA, Jacobs WR Jr, et al. An outbreak of
tuberculosis with accelerated progression among persons
infected with the human immunodeficiency virus: an
analysis using restriction fragment length
polymorphisms. N Engl J Med 1992; 326 : 231-5.

26.

Selwyn PA, Hartel D, Lewis VA, Schoenbaum EE,
Vermund SH, Klein RS, et al. A prospective study of
the risk of tuberculosis among intravenous drug users
with human immunodeficiency virus infection. N Engl
J Med 1989; 320 : 545-50.

27.

Corbett EL, Watt CJ, Walker N, Maher D, Williams BG,
Raviglione MC, et al. The growing burden of
tuberculosis: global trends and interactions with the HIV
epidemic. Arch Intern Med 2003; 163 : 1009-21.

28.

Small PM, Shafer RW, Hopewell PC, Singh SP,
Murphy MJ, Desmond E, et al. Exogenous reinfection
with multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in
patients with advanced HIV infection. N Engl J Med
1993; 328 : 1137-44.

29.

Korenromp EL, Scano F, Williams BG, Dye C,
Nunn P. Effects of human immunodeficiency virus
infection on recurrence of tuberculosis after rifampinbased treatment: an analytical review. Clin Infect Dis
2003; 37 : 101-12.

30.

Schluger NW, Rom WN. The host immune response to
tuberculosis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1998; 157 :
679-91.

31.

Beutler B, Cerami A. The common mediator of shock,
cachexia, and tumor necrosis. Adv Immunol 1988; 42 :
213-31.

32.

Sharma SK, Mohan A. Clinical manifestations. In:
Sharma SK, Mohan A, editors. Tuberculosis. New Delhi:
Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers; 2001 p. 148-51.

33.

Lin Y, Zhang M, Hofman FM, Gong J, Barnes PF.
Absence of a prominent Th2 cytokine response in human
tuberculosis. Infect Immun 1996; 64 : 1351-6.

34.

Zhang M, Gong J, Iyer DV, Jones BE, Modlin RL,
Barnes PF. T cell cytokine responses in persons with
tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus
infection. J Clin Invest 1994; 94 : 2435-42.

35.

Barnes PF, Barrows SA. Tuberculosis in the 1990s. Ann
Intern Med 1993; 119 : 400-10.

16.

17.

Haas DW, Des Prez RM. Tuberculosis and acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome: a historical perspective on
recent developments. Am J Med 1994; 96 : 439-50.
Shafer RW, Kim DS, Weiss JP, Quale JM.
Extrapulmonary tuberculosis in patients with human
immunodeficiency virus infection. Medicine (Baltimore)
1991; 70 : 384-97.

18.

Antonucci G, Girardi E, Armignacco O, Salmaso S,
Ippolito G. Tuberculosis in HIV-infected subjects in
Italy: a multicentre study. The Gruppo Italiano di Studio
Tubercolosi e AIDS. AIDS 1992; 6 : 1007-13.

19.

Jones BE, Young SMM, Antoniskis D, Davidson PT,
Kramer F, Barnes PF. Relationship of the manifestations
of tuberculosis to CD4 cell counts in patients with human
immunodeficiency virus infection. Am Rev Respir Dis
1993; 148 : 1292-7.

20.

Lado Lado FL, Barrio Gomez E, Carballo Arceo E,
Cabarcos Ortiz de Barron A. Clinical presentation of
tuberculosis and the degree of immunodeficiency in
patients with HIV infection. Scand J Infect Dis 1999;
31 : 387-91.

21.

Lee MP, Chan JW, Ng KK, Li PC. Clinical manifestations
of tuberculosis in HIV-infected patients. Respirology
2000; 5 : 423-6.

22.

Poprawski D, Pitisuttitum P, Tansuphasawadikul S.
Clinical presentations and outcomes of TB among
HIV-positive patients. Southeast Asian J Trop Med
Public Health 2000; 31 (Suppl 1) : 140-2.

23.

AIIMS-WHO Meeting on the Involvement of Medical
Schools in T and STI/HIV Control. Report of an Informal
Consultation on 28-30 November 2001 and Follow-up
meeting on 29 April 2002. New Delhi: All India Institute
of Medical Sciences - World Health Organization
(SEARO); 2002.

SHARMA & MOHAN: EXTRAPULMONARY TB
50.

Olson RN. Nontuberculous mycobacterial infections of
the face and neck-practical considerations. Laryngoscope
1981; 91 : 1714-26.

51.

Chen YM, Lee PY, Su WJ, Perng RP. Lymph node
tuberculosis: 7-year experience in Veterans General
Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Tuber Lung Dis 1992;
73 : 368-71.

52.

Appling D, Miller HR. Mycobacterial cervical
lymphadenopathy: 1981 update. Laryngoscope 1981;
91 : 1259-66.

Fain O, Lortholary O, Djouab M, Amoura I, Bainet P,
Beaudreuil J, et al. Lymph node tuberculosis in the
suburbs of Paris: 59 cases in adults not infected by the
human immunodeficiency virus. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis
1999; 3 : 162-5.

53.

Thompson MM, Underwood MJ, Sayers RD,
Dookeran KA, Bell PRF. Peripheral tuberculous
lymphadenopathy: a review of 67 cases. Br J Surg
1992; 79 : 763-4.

Bem C. Human immunodeficiency virus-positive
tuberculous lymphadenitis in Central Africa: clinical
presentation of 157 cases. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 1997;
1 : 215-9.

54.

Powell DA. Tuberculous lymphadenitis. In:
Schlossberg D, editor. Tuberculosis and nontuberculous
mycobacterial infection. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders
Co; 1999 p. 186-94.

55.

Mert A, Tabak F, Ozaras R, Tahan V, Ozturk R,
Aktuglu Y. Tuberculous lymphadenopathy in adults: a
review of 35 cases. Acta Chir Belg 2002; 102 : 118-21.

36.

Sharma SK, Mohan A, Gupta R, Kumar A, Gupta AK,
Singhal VK, et al. Clinical presentation of tuberculosis
in patients with AIDS: an Indian experience. Indian J
Chest Dis Allied Sci 1997; 39 : 213-20.

37.

Kumar P, Sharma N, Sharma NC, Patnaik S. Clinical
profile of tuberculosis in patients with HIV Infection/
AIDS. Indian J Chest Dis Allied Sci 2002; 44 : 159-63.

38.

Kumar A. Lymph node tuberculosis. In: Sharma SK,
Mohan A, editors. Tuberculosis. New Delhi: Jaypee
Brothers Medical Publishers; 2001 p. 273-84.

39.

40.

345

41.

Dandapat MC. Mishra BM, Dash SP, Kar PK. Peripheral
lymph node tuberculosis: a review of 80 cases. Br J Surg
1990; 77 : 911-2.

42.

Subrahmanyam M. Role of surgery and chemotherapy
for peripheral lymph node tuberculosis. Br J Surg 1993;
8 : 1547-8.

43.

Jawahar MS, Sivasubramaniam S, Vijayan VK,
Ramakrishnan CV, Paramasivan CN, Selvakumar V, et al.
Short-course
chemotherapy
for
tuberculous
lymphadenitis in children. BMJ 1990; 301 : 359-62.

56.

Geldmacher H, Taube C, Kroeger C, Magnussen H,
Kirsten DK. Assessment of lymph node tuberculosis in
northern Germany: a clinical review. Chest 2002;
121 : 1177-82.

44.

White MP, Bangash H, Goel K, Jenkins PA,
Nontuberculous mycobacterial lymphadenitis. Arch Dis
Child 1986; 61 : 368-71.

57.

Abba AA, Bamgboye AE, Afzal M, Rahmatullah RA.
Lymphadenopathy in adults. A clinicopathological
analysis. Saudi Med J 2002; 23 : 282-6.

45.

Roba-Kiewicz M, Grzybowski S. Epidemiologic aspects
of nontuberculous mycobacterial diseases and of
tuberculosis in British Columbia. Am Rev Respir Dis
1974;109: 613-20.

58.

Aggarwal P, Wali JP, Singh S, Handa R, Wig N,
Biswas A. A clinico-bacteriological study of peripheral
tuberculous lymphadenitis. J Assoc Physicians India
2001; 49 : 808-12.

46.

Manolidis S, Frenkiel S, Yoskovitch A, Black M.
Mycobacterial infections of the head and neck.
Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1993; 109 : 427-33.

59.

Jones PG, Campbell PE. Tuberculous lymphadenitis in
childhood: The significance of anonymous mycobacteria.
Br J Surg 1962; 50 : 302-14.

47.

Yates MD, Grange JM. Bacteriological survey of
tuberculous lymphadenitis in South-east England, 19811989. J Epidemiol Community Health 1992; 46 : 332-5.

60.

Singh B, Moodly M, Goga AD, Haffejee AA. Dysphagia
secondary to tuberculous lymphadenitis. S Afr J Surg
1996; 34 : 197-9.

48.

Pang SC. Mycobacterial lymphadenitis in Western
Australia. Tuber Lung Dis 1992; 73 : 362-7.

61.

49.

Lee KC, Tami TA, Lalwani AK, Schecter G.
Contemporary management of cervical tuberculosis.
Laryngoscope 1992; 102 : 60-4.

Gupta SP, Arora A, Bhargava DK. An unusual
presentation of oesophageal tuberculosis. Tuber Lung Dis
1992; 73 : 174-6.

62.

Ohtake M, Saito H, Okuno M, Yamamoto S, Ohgimi T.
Esophagomediastinal fistula as a complication of

346

INDIAN J MED RES, OCTOBER 2004
tuberculous mediastinal lymphadenitis. J Intern Med
1996; 35 : 984-6.

78.

Brusko G, Melvin WS, Fromkes JJ, Ellison EC.
Pancreatic tuberculosis. Am J Surg 1995; 61 : 513-5.

63.

Adkins MS, Raccuia JS, Acinapura AJ. Esophageal
perforation in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome. Ann Thorac Surg 1990; 50 : 299-300.

79.

64.

Im JG, Kim JH, Han MC. Computed tomography of
esophagomediastinal fistula in tuberculous mediastinal
lymphadenitis. J Comput Assist Tomogr 1990;
14 : 89-92.

Levine R, Tenner S, Steinberg W, Ginsberg A, Borum
M, Huntington D. Tuberculous abscess of the pancreas.
Case report and review of the literature. Dig Dis Sci
1992; 37 : 1141-4.

80.

Varshney S, Johnson CD. Tuberculosis of the pancreas.
Postgrad Med J 1995; 71 : 564-6.

81.

Sheen-Chen SM, Chou FF, Wan YL, Eng HL.
Tuberculosis presenting as a solitary splenic tumour.
Tuber Lung Dis 1995; 76 : 80-3.

82.

Soriano V, Tor J, Gabarre E, Gros T, Muga R. Multifocal
splenic abscesses caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis
in HIV-infected drug users. AIDS 1991; 5 : 901-2.

83.

Mohan A, Sharma SK. Tuberculosis at other body sites.
In: Sharma SK, Mohan A, editors. Tuberculosis. New
Delhi: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers; 2001
p. 607-10.

84.

Radhakrishnan K, Kihore A, Mathuranath PS.
Neurological tuberculosis. In: Sharma SK, Mohan A,
editors. Tuberculosis. New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers
Medical Publishers; 2001 p.209-28.

85.

Thwaites GE, Chau TT, Stepniewska K, Phu NH,
Chuong LV, Sinh DX, et al. Diagnosis of adult
tuberculous meningitis by use of clinical and laboratory
features. Lancet 2002; 360 : 1287-92.

86.

Tandon PN, Bhatia R, Bhargava S. Tuberculous
meningitis. In: Harris AA, editor. Handbook of clinical
neurology (revised series). Amsterdam: Elsevier Science;
1988 p. 195-226.

87.

Rich AR, Mc Cordock HA. Pathogenesis of tuberculous
meningitis. Bull John Hopkins Hosp 1933; 52 : 5-37.

88.

Thomas MD, Chopra JS, Walia BNS. Tuberculous
meningitis. A clinical study of 232 cases. J Assoc
Physicians India 1977; 25 : 633-9.

89.

Medical Research Council. Streptomycin treatment of
tuberculous meningitis: report of the committee
on streptomycin in tuberculosis trials. Lancet 1948;
1 : 582-97.

90.

Kennedy DH, Fallon RJ. Tuberculous meningitis. JAMA
1979; 241 : 264-8.

91.

Sheller JR, Des Prez RM. CNS tuberculosis. Neurol Clin
1986; 4 : 143-58.

92.

Hosoglu S, Geyik MF, Balik I, Aygen B, Erol S,
Aygencel TG, et al. Predictors of outcome in patients
with tuberculous meningitis. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2002;
6 : 64-70.

65.

Lee JH, Shin DH, Kang KW, Park SS, Lee DH. The
medical treatment of a tuberculous tracheo-oesophageal
fistula. Tuber Lung Dis 1992; 73 : 177-9.

66.

Wilson RS, White RJ. Lymph node tuberculosis
presenting as chyluria. Thorax 1976; 31 : 617-20.

67.

Vennera MC, Moreno R, Cot J, Marin A, Sanchez-Lloret
J, Picado C, et al. Chylothorax and tuberculosis. Thorax
1983;38:694-5.

68.

Kohn MD, Altman KA. Jaundice due to rare causes:
tuberculous lymphadenitis. Am J Gastroenterol 1973;
s59 : 48-53.

69.

Paredes C, Del Campo F, Zamarron C. Cardiac
tamponade due to tuberculous mediastinal lymphadenitis.
Tubercle 1990; 71 : 219-20.

70.

Stanley BR, Fernandez AJ, Peppard BS. Cervicofacial
mycobacterial infections presenting as major salivary
gland disease. Laryngoscope 1983; 93 : 1271-5.

71.

Valdes L, Pose A, San Jose E, Martinez Vazquez JM.
Tuberculous pleural effusions. Eur J Intern Med 2003;
14 : 77-88.

72.

Light RW. Management of pleural effusions. J Formos
Med Assoc 2000; 99 : 523-31.

73.

Ferrer J. Pleural tuberculosis. Eur Respir J 1997;
10 : 942-7.

74.

Aggarwal AN, Gupta D, Jindal SK. Diagnosis of
tuberculous pleural effusion. Indian J Chest Dis Allied
Sci 1999; 41 : 89-100.

75.

Sharma SK, Mitra DK, Balamurugan A, Pandey RM,
Mehra NK. Cytokine polarization in miliary and pleural
tuberculosis. J Clin Immunol 2002; 22 : 345-52.

76.

77.

Ibrarullah M, Mohan A, Sarkari A, Srinivas M,
Mishra A, Sundar TS. Abdominal tuberculosis: diagnosis
by laparoscopy and colonoscopy. Trop Gastroenterol
2002; 23 : 150-3.
Sharma MP, Bhatia V. Abdominal tuberculosis. Indian
J Med Res 2004; 120 : 354-76.

SHARMA & MOHAN: EXTRAPULMONARY TB

347

93.

Kocen RS, Parsons M. Neurological complications of
tuberculosis: some unusual manifestations. Q J Med
1970; 39 : 17-30.

106. Das PB, Gupta RP, Sukumar IP, Cherian G, John S.
Pericardiectomy: indications and results. J Thoracic
Cardiovasc Surg 1973; 66 : 58-70.

94.

Dastur HM, Desai AD. A comparative study of brain
tuberculomas and gliomas based on 107 case records of
each. Brain 1965; 88 : 375-96.

95.

Armstrong FB, Edwards AM. Intracranial tuberculoma
in native races of Canada: with special reference to
symptomatic epilepsy and neurologic features. CMAJ
1963; 89 : 56-65.

107. Strang JIG, Kakaza HHS, Gibson DG, Girling DJ,
Nunn AJ, Fox W. Controlled trial of prednisolone as
adjuvant in treatment of tuberculous constrictive
pericarditis in Transkei. Lancet 1987; 2 : 1418-22.

96.

97.

Sethi PK, Kumar BR, Madan VS, Mohan V. Appearing
and disappearing CT scan abnormalities and seizures.
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatr 1985; 48 : 866-9.
Wadia RS, Makhale CN, Kelkar AV, Grant KB. Focal
epilepsy in India with special reference to lesions
showing ring or disc-like enhancement on contrast
computed tomography. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatr
1987; 50 : 1298-301.

98.

Goulatia RK, Verma A, Mishra NK, Ahuja GK.
Disappearing CT lesion in epilepsy. Epilepsia 1987;
28 : 523-7.

99.

Chandy MJ, Rajshekhar V, Ghosh S, Prakash S,
Joseph T, Abraham J, et al. Single small enhancing CT
lesions in Indian patients with epilepsy: clinical,
radiological and pathological considerations. J Neurol
Neurosurg Psychiatr 1991; 54 : 702-5.

100. Singhal BS, Ladiwala U, Singhal P. Neurocysticercosis
in the Indian context (with special reference to solitary
parenchymatous cyst). Neurol India 1997; 45 : 211-7.
101. Berenguer J, Moreno S, Laguna F, Vicente T,
Adrados M, Ortega A, et al. Tuberculous meningitis in
patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus.
N Engl J Med 1992; 326 : 668-72.
102. Bishburg E, Sunderam G, Rechman LB, Kapila R. Central
nervous system tuberculosis with the acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome and its related complex.
Ann Intern Med 1986; 105 : 210-13.
103. Yechoor VK, Shandera WX, Rodriguez P, Cate TR.
Tuberculous meningitis among adults with and without
HIV infection. Experience in an urban hospital. Arch
Intern Med 1996; 156 : 1710-6.
104. Kothari SS, Juneja R. Tuberculosis and the heart. In:
Sharma SK, Mohan A, editors. Tuberculosis. New Delhi:
Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers; 2001 p. 229-36.
105. Bakshi VV, John S, Ravikumar E, Sunder KS,
Krishnaswamy S. Early and late results of
pericardiectomy in 118 cases of constrictive pericarditis.
Thorax 1988; 43 : 637-41.

108. Jain S, Sharma N, Varma S, Rajwanshi A, Verma JS,
Sharma BK. Profile of cardiac tamponade in the medical
emergency ward of a North Indian hospital. Can J Cardiol
1999; 15 : 671-5.
109. Permanyer-Miralda G, Sagrista-Sauleda J, Soler-Soler
J. Primary acute pericardial disease: a prospective series
of 231 consecutive patients. Am J Cardiol 1985; 56 :
623-9.
110. Strang JIG. Tuberculosis pericarditis in Transkei. Clin
Cardiol 1984; 7 : 667-70.
111. Larrieu AJ, Tyers GF, Williams EH, Derrick JR. Recent
experience with tuberculosis pericarditis. Am Thorac
Surg 1980; 29 : 464-8.
112. Fewell JW, Cohen RV, Miller CL. Tuberculous
pericarditis. In: Cortes FM, editor. The pericardium and
its disorders. Springfield: Charles C Thomas; 1971 p.140.
113. Fowler NO. Tuberculous pericarditis. JAMA 1991;
266 : 199-203.
114. Talwar JR, Bhatia ML. Constrictive pericarditis. In:
Ahuja MMS, editor. Progress in clinical medicine in
India. New Delhi: Arnold-Heinemann; 1981 p. 177-89.
115. Rooney JJ, Crocco JA, Lyons HA. Tuberculous
pericarditis. Ann Intern Med 1970; 72 : 73-8.
116. Hancock EW. Cardiac tamponade. Med Clin North Am
1979; 63 : 223-37.
117. Ortbals DW, Avioli LV. Tuberculous pericarditis. Arch
Intern Med 1979; 139 : 231-4.
118. Strang JIG, Kakaza HHS, Gibson DG, Allen BW,
Mitchison DA, Evans DJ, et al. Controlled clinical trial
of complete open surgical drainage and of prednisolone
in treatment of tuberculous pericardial effusion in
Transkei. Lancet 1988; ii : 759-64.
119. Bhan S, Nag V. Skeletal tuberculosis. In: Sharma SK,
Mohan A, editors. Tuberculosis. New Delhi: Jaypee
Brothers Medical Publishers; 2001 p. 237-60.
120. Malaviya AN, Kotwal PP. Arthritis associated with
tuberculosis. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 2003;
17 : 319-43.

348

INDIAN J MED RES, OCTOBER 2004

121. Hemal AK. Genitourinary tuberculosis. In: Sharma SK,
Mohan A, editors. Tuberculosis. New Delhi: Jaypee
Brothers Medical Publishers; 2001 p. 325-37.

136. Rohatgi PK, Palazzolo JV, Saini NB. Acute miliary
tuberculosis of the skin in acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome. J Am Acad Dermatol 1992; 26 : 356-9.

122. Teklu B, Ostrow JH. Urinary tuberculosis: a review of
44 cases treated since 1963. J Urol 1976; 115 : 507-9.

137. Freed JA, Pervez NK, Chen V, Damsker B. Cutaneous
mycobacteriosis: occurrence and significance in two
patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
Arch Dermatol 1987; 123 : 1601-3.

123. Weinberg AC, Boyd SD. Short-course chemotherapy and
role of surgery in adult and pediatric genitourinary
tuberculosis. Urology 1988 ; 31 : 95-102.
124. Medical Research Council Tuberculosis and Chest
Diseases Unit. National survey of notifications of
tuberculosis in England and Wales in 1983. Br Med J
(Clin Res Ed.) 1985; 291 : 658-61.
125. Kumar S. Female genital tuberculosis. In: Sharma SK,
Mohan A, editors. Tuberculosis. New Delhi: Jaypee
Brothers Medical Publishers; 2001 p. 311-24.
126. Schaefer G. Female genital tuberculosis. Clin Obstet
Gynecol 1976; 19 : 223-39.
127. Siegler AM, Kontopoulos V. Female genital tuberculosis
and the role of hysterosalpingography. Semin Roentgenol
1979; 14 : 295-304.
128. Bazaz-Malik G, Maheshwari B, Lal N. Tuberculous
endometritis: a clinicopathological study of 1000 cases.
Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1983; 90 : 84-6.
129. Ramam M. Cutaneous tuberculosis. In: Sharma SK,
Mohan A, editors. Tuberculosis. New Delhi: Jaypee
Brothers Medical Publishers; 2001 p. 261-71.

138. Lombardo PC, Weitzman I. Isolation of Mycobacterium
tuberculosis and M. avium complex from the same skin
lesions in AIDS. N Engl J Med 1990; 323 : 916-7.
139. Taylor AEM, Corris PA. Cutaneous tuberculosis in an
immunocompromised host: an unusual clinical
presentation. Br J Dermatol 1995; 132 : 155-6.
140. Quinibi WJ, Al-Sibai MB, Taher S, Harder EJ, Furayh
OL, Ginn HE, et al. Mycobacterial infection after renal
transplantation-report of 14 cases and review of the
literature. QJM 1990; 282 : 1039-60.
141. Kumar S. Tuberculosis in otorhinolaryngology. In:
Sharma SK, Mohan A, editors. Tuberculosis. New Delhi:
Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers; 2001 p. 285-93.
142. Soni NK, Chatterjee P. Laryngeal tuberculosis. Indian J
Otolaryngol 1978; 30 : 115-7.
143. Rupa V, Bhanu TS. Laryngeal tuberculosis in the eighties
- an Indian experience. J Laryngol Otol 1989; 103 :
864-8.

130. Mammen A, Thambiah AS. Tuberculosis of the skin.
Indian J Dermatol Venereol 1973; 39 : 153-9.

144. Thaller SR, Gross JR, Pilch BZ, Goodman M. Laryngeal
tuberculosis as manifested in the decades 1963-1983.
Laryngoscope 1987; 97 : 848-50.

131. Pandhi RK, Bedi TR, Kanwar AJ, Bhutani LK. Cutaneous
tuberculosis: a clinical and investigative study. Indian J
Dermatol 1977; 22 : 99-107.

145. Sode A, Rubio J, Salazar M, Ganem J, Berlanga D,
Sanchez A. Tuberculosis of the larynx: clinical aspects
in 19 patients. Larynogoscope 1989; 99 : 1147-50.

132. Ramesh V, Misra RS, Jain RK. Secondary tuberculosis
of the skin, clinical features and problems in laboratory
diagnosis. Int J Dermatol 1986; 26 : 578-81.

146. Soni NK, Chatterji P, Chhimpa I. Lingual tuberculosis.
Indian J Otolaryngol 1979; 31 : 92-2.

133. Kumar B, Muralidhar S. Cutaneous tuberculosis: a
twenty-year prospective study. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis
1999; 3 : 494-500.
134. Kakkahel KV, Fritsch P. Cutaneous tuberculosis. Int J
Dermatol 1989; 28 : 355-62.
135. Doshrovsky A, Sagher F, Dermatologic complications
of BCG vaccination. Br J Dermatol 1963; 75 : 180-92.

147. Komet H, Schaefer RF, Mahoney PL, Antonio S. Bilateral
tuberculosis granulomas of the tongue. Arch Otolaryngol
1965; 82 : 649-51.
148. Brennan TF, Vrabec DP. Tuberculosis of the oral mucosa.
Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1970; 79 : 601-5.
149. Fujibayashi T, Takahashi Y, Yoneda T, Tagani Y,
Kusama M. Tuberculosis of the tongue. Oral Surg 1979;
47 : 427-35.

SHARMA & MOHAN: EXTRAPULMONARY TB

349

150. Mcandrew PG, Adekeye EO, Ajdukiewicz AB. Miliary
tuberculosis presenting with multifocal oral lesions.
Br Med J 1976; 1 : 1320.

164. Mohan A, Sharma SK, Pande JN. Acute respiratory distress
syndrome in miliary tuberculosis: a 12-year experience.
Indian J Chest Dis Allied Sci 1996; 38 : 147-52.

151. Weaver RA. Tuberculosis of the tongue. JAMA 1976;
235 : 2418.

165. Kim JH, Langston AA, Gallis HA. Miliary tuberculosis:
epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and
outcome. Rev Infect Dis 1990; 12 : 583-90.

152. Sachdeva OP, Kukreja SM, Mohan C. Lupus vulgaris of
external ear. Indian J Otolaryngol 1978; 30 : 136-7.
153. Kukreja HK, Sacha BS, Joshi KC. Tuberculosis of
maxillary sinus. Indian J Otolaryngol 1977; 29 : 27-8.

166. Maartens G, Willcox PA , Benatar SR. Miliary
tuberculosis: rapid diagnosis, hematologic abnormalities
and outcome in 109 treated adults. Am J Med 1990;
89 : 291-6.

154. Krishnan E, Rudraksha MR. Paranasal sinus tuberculosis.
India J Otolaryngol 1978; 30 : 125-6.

167. Gelb AF, Leffler C, Brewin A, Mascatello V,
Lyons HA. Miliary tuberculosis. Am Rev Respir Dis 1973;
108 : 1327-33.

155. Bouza E, Merino P, Munoz P, Sanchez-Carrillo C,
Yanez J, Cortes C. Ocular tuberculosis. A prospective
study in a general hospital. Medicine (Baltimore) 1997;
76 : 53-61.

168. Munt PW. Miliary tuberculosis in the chemotherapy era:
with a clinical review in 69 American adults. Medicine
1972; 51 : 139-55.

156. Hill AR, Premkumar S, Brustein S, Vaidya K, Powell S,
Li P-W, et al. Disseminated tuberculosis in the acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome era. Am Rev Respir Dis
1991; 144 : 1164-70.
157. Long R, O’Connor R, Palayew M, Hershfield E,
Manfreda J. Disseminated tuberculosis with and without
a miliary pattern on the chest radiograph: a clinicalpathological-radiologic correlation. Int J Tuberc Lung
Dis 1997; 1 : 52-8.
158. Sahn SA, Neff TA. Miliary tuberculosis. Am J Med 1974;
56 : 495-505.
159. Proudfoot AT, Akhtar AJ, Doughs AC, Horne NW.
Miliary tuberculosis in adults. BMJ 1969; 2 : 273-6.
160. Sharma SK, Mohan A, Prasad KL, Pande JN, Gupta AK,
Khilnani GC. Clinical profile, laboratory characteristics
and outcome in miliary tuberculosis. QJM 1995;
88 : 29-37.
161. Sharma SK, Pande JN, Singh YN, Verma K, Kathait SS,
Khare SD, et al. Pulmonary function and immunologic
abnormalities in miliary tuberculosis. Am Rev Respir Dis
1992; 145 : 1167-71.
162. Sharma SK, Mukhopadhyay S, Arora R, Varma K,
Pande JN, Khilnani GC. Computed tomography in miliary
tuberculosis: comparison with plain films,
bronchoalveolar lavage, pulmonary functions and gas
exchange. Australasian Radiol 1996; 40 : 113-8.
163. Sharma SK, Pande JN, Verma K. Bronchoalveolar lavage
(BAL) in miliary tuberculosis. Tubercle 1988; 69 : 175-8.

169. Biehl JP. Miliary tuberculosis. A review of sixty eight
adult patients admitted to a municipal general hospital.
Am Rev Tuberc Pulm Dis 1958; 77 : 605-22.
170. Dyer RA, Chappell WA, Potgeiter PD. Adult respiratory
distress syndrome associated with miliary tuberculosis.
Crit Care Med 1985; 13 : 12-5.
171. So SY, Yu D. The adult respiratory distress syndrome
associated with miliary tuberculosis. Tubercle 1981; 62
: 49-53.
172. Shribman JH, Eastwood JB, Uff J. Immune complex
nephritis complicating miliary tuberculosis. BMJ 1983;
287 : 1593-4.
173. Braidy J, Pothel C, Amra S. Miliary tuberculosis
presenting as adrenal failure. J Can Med Assoc 1981;
82 : 254-6.
174. Piqueras AR, Marruecos L, Artigas A, Rodriguez C.
Miliary tuberculosis and adult respiratory distress
syndrome. Intensive Care Med 1987; 13 : 175-82.
175. Heap MJ, Bion JF, Hunter KR. Miliary tuberculosis and
the adult respiratory distress syndrome. Respir Med 1989;
83 : 153-6.
176. Fulkerson WJ, MacIntyre N, Stamler J, Crapo JD.
Pathogenesis and treatment of the adult respiratory
distress syndrome. Arch Intern Med 1996; 156 : 29-38.
177. Goldsack NR, Allen S, Lipman MC. Adult respiratory
distress syndrome as a severe immune reconstitution
disease following the commencement of highly active
antiretroviral therapy. Sex Transm Infect 2003;
79: 337-8.

350

INDIAN J MED RES, OCTOBER 2004

178. Kim JY, Park YB, Kim YS, Kang SB, Shin JW, Park IW,
et al. Miliary tuberculosis and acute respiratory distress
syndrome. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2003; 7 : 359-64.

192. Verma K, Kapila K. Aspiration cytology for diagnosis
of tuberculosis - perspectives in India. Indian J Pediatr
2002; 69 : S39-43.

179. Sharma SK, Mohan A. Acute respiratory distress
syndrome. In: Grover A, Agarwal V, Gera P, Gupta R,
editors. Manual of medial emergencies. 2nd ed. Delhi :
Pushpanjali Medical Publications; 2003 p. 397-401.

193. Baron KM, Aranda CP. Diagnosis of mediastinal
mycobacterial lymphadenopathy by transbronchial
needle aspiration. Chest 1991; 100 : 1723-4.

180. Sharma SK. Detailed clinical and immunogenetic studies
in granulomatous lung diseases. Ph.D. thesis. New
Delhi: All India Institute of Medical Sciences; 2002.
181. Huhti E, Brander E, Paloheimo S, Sutinen S. Tuberculosis
of the cervical lymph nodes : a clinical, pathological and
bacteriological study. Tubercle 1975; 56 : 27-36.
182. Seibert AF, Haynes J Jr, Middleton R, Bass JB Jr.
Tuberculous pleural effusion. Twenty-year experience.
Chest 1991; 99 : 883-6.
183. Epstein DM, Kline LR, Albelda SM, Miller WT.
Tuberculous pleural effusions. Chest 1987; 91 : 106-9.
184. Antoniskis D, Amin K, Barnes PF. Pleuritis as a
manifestation of reactivation tuberculosis. Am J Med
1990; 89 : 447-50.
185. Singh MM, Bhargava AN, Jain KP. Tuberculosis
peritonitis: an evaluation of pathogenic mechanisms,
diagnostic procedures and therapeutic measures. N Engl
J Med 1969; 289 : 1091-4.
186. Singh V, Jain AK, Agrawal AK, Khanna S,
Khanna AK, Gupta JP. Clinicopathological profile of
abdominal tuberculosis. Br J Clin Pract 1995; 49 : 22-4.
187. Manohar A, Simjee AE, Haffejee AA, Pettengell KE.
Symptoms and investigative findings in 145 patients with
tuberculous peritonitis diagnosed by peritoneoscopy and
biopsy over a five year period. Gut 1990; 31 : 1130-2.
188. Szmigielski W, Venkatraman B, Ejeckam GC,
Jarikre LN. Abdominal tuberculosis in Qatar: a clinicoradiological study. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 1998; 2 : 563-8.
189. Balasubramanian R, Nagarajan M, Balambal R,
Tripathy SP, Sundararaman R, Venkatesan P, et al.
Randomised controlled clinical trial of short course
chemotherapy in abdominal tuberculosis: a five-year
report. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 1997; 1 : 44-51.
190. Hugo-Hamman CT, Scher H, De Moor MM. Tuberculous
pericarditis in children: a review of 44 cases. Pediatr
Infect Dis J 1994; 13 : 13-8.
191. Prout S, Benatar SR. Disseminated tuberculosis. A study
of 62 cases. S Afr Med J 1980; 58 : 835-42.

194. Gupta AK, Nayar M, Chandra M. Critical appraisal of
fine needle aspiration cytology in tuberculous
lymphadenitis. Acta Cytol 1992; 36 : 391-4.
195. Finfer M, Perchik A, Burstein DE. Fine needle aspiration
biopsy diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis in patients
with and without the acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome. Acta Cytol 1991; 35 : 325-32.
196. Gupta SK, Chugh TD, Shiekh XA, al-Rubah NA.
Cytodiagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis. A
correlative study with microbiologic examination. Acta
Cytol 1993; 35 : 329-32.
197. Lau SK, Wei WI, Hsu C, Engzell UC. Efficacy of fine
needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of tuberculous
cervical lymphadenopathy. J Laryngol Otol 1990;
104 : 24-7.
198. Radhika S, Gupta SK, Chakrabarti A, Rajwanshi A, Joshi
K. Role of culture for mycobacteria in fine-needle
aspiration diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis. Diagn
Cytopathol 1989; 5 : 260-2.
199. Pithie AD, Chicksen B. Fine-needle extra-thoracic
lymph-node aspiration in HIV associated sputumnegative tuberculosis. Lancet 1992; 340 : 1504-5.
200. Bem C, Patil PS, Elliott AM, Namammbo KM, Bharucha
H, Porter JD. The value of wide-needle aspiration in the
diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis in Africa. AIDS
1993; 7 : 1221-5.
201. Kumar A, Mohan A, Sharma SK, Kaul V, Parshad R,
Chattopadhyay TK. Video assisted thoracoscopic surgery
(VATS) in the diagnosis of intrathoracic pathology:initial
experience. Indian J Chest Dis Allied Sci 1999;
41 : 2-13.
202. Vanajakumar, Selvakumar N, Jawahar MS, Rajaram K,
Paramasivan CN. Transportation of lymph node biopsy
specimens in selective Kirchner’s liquid medium for
culture of tubercle bacilli. J Med Microbiol 1997;
46 : 260-2.
203. Samuel AM, Kadival GV, Ashtekar MD, Ganatra RD.
Evaluation of tubercular antigen & antitubercular
antibodies in pleural & ascitic effusions. Indian J
Med Res 1984; 80 : 563-5.

SHARMA & MOHAN: EXTRAPULMONARY TB
204. Murate T, Mizoguchi K, Amano H, Shimokata K,
Matsuda T. Antipurified-protein-derivative antibody in
tuberculous pleural effusions. Chest 1990; 97 : 670-3.
205. Caminero JA, Rodriguez de Castro F, Carrillo T, Cabrera
P. Antimycobacterial antibodies in tuberculous pleural
effusions: reliability of antigen 60. Chest 1991;
99 : 1315-6.
206. Caminero JA, Rodriguez de Castro F, Carrillo T,
Diaz F, Rodriguez Bermejo JC, Cabrera P. Diagnosis of
pleural tuberculosis by detection of specific IgG antiantigen 60 in serum and pleural fluid. Respiration 1993;
60 : 8-62.
207. Meena LS, Goel S, Sharma SK, Jain NK,
Banavaliker JN, Bedwal RS, et al. Comparative study of
three different mycobacterial antigens with a novel
lipopolysaccharide antigen for the serodiagnosis of
tuberculosis. J Clin Lab Anal 2002; 16 : 151-5.
208. Chandramuki A, Bothamley GH, Brennan PJ,
Ivanyi J. Levels of antibody to defined antigens of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis in tuberculous meningitis.
J Clin Microbiol 1989; 27 : 821-5.

351

215. Radhakrishnan VV, Sehgal S, Mathai A. Correlation
between culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and
detection of mycobacterial antigens in cerebrospinal fluid
of patients with tuberculous meningitis. J Med Microbiol
1990; 33 : 223-6.
216. Desai T, Gogate A, Deodhar L, Toddywalla S,
Kelkar M. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent-assay for
antigen detection in tuberculous meningitis. Indian J
Pathol Microbiol 1993; 36 : 348-55.
217. de Wit D, Maartens G, Steyn L. A comparative study of
the polymerase chain reaction and conventional
procedures for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural
effusion. Tuber Lung Dis 1992; 73 : 262-7.
218. de Lassence A, Lecossier D, Pierre C, Cadranel J,
Stern M, Hance AJ. Detection of mycobacterial DNA in
pleural fluid from patients with tuberculous pleurisy by
means of the polymerase chain reaction: comparison of
two protocols. Thorax 1992; 47 : 265-9.
219. Querol JM, Minguez J, Garcia-Sanchez E, Farga MA,
Gimeno C, Garcia-de-Lomas J. Rapid diagnosis of pleural
tuberculosis by polymerase chain reaction. Am J Respir
Crit Care Med 1995; 152 : 1977-81.

209. Park SC, Lee BI, Cho SN, Kim WJ, Lee BC,
Kim SM, et al. Diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis by
detection of immunoglobulin G antibodies to purified
protein derivative and lipoarabinomannan antigen in
cerebrospinal fluid. Tuber Lung Dis 1993; 74 : 317-22.

220. Verma A, Dasgupta N, Aggrawal AN, Pande JN,
Tyagi JS. Utility of a Mycobacterium tuberculosis
GC-rich repetitive sequence in the diagnosis of
tuberculous pleural effusion by PCR. Indian J Biochem
Biophys 1995; 32 : 429-36.

210. Srivastava L, Prasanna S, Srivastava VK. Diagnosis of
tuberculous meningitis by ELISA test. Indian J Med Res
1994; 99 : 8-12.

221. Kaneko K, Onodera O, Miyatake T, Tsuji S. Rapid
diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis by polymerase chain
reaction (PCR). Neurology 1990; 40 : 1617-8.

211. Baig MM, Pettengell KE, Simjee AE, Sathar MA,
Vorster BJ. Diagnosis of tuberculosis by detection of
mycobacterial antigen in pleural effusions and ascites.
S Afr Med J 1986; 69 : 101-2.

222. Shankar P, Manjunath N, Mohan KK, Prasad K,
Behari M, Shriniwas, et al. Rapid diagnosis of
tuberculous meningitis by polymerase chain reaction.
Lancet 1991; 337 : 5-7.

212. Ramkisson A, Coovadia YM, Coovadia HM. A
competition ELISA for the detection of mycobacterial
antigen in tuberculosis exudates. Tubercle 1988;
69 : 209-12.

223. Kox LF, Kuijper S, Kolk AH. Early diagnosis of
tuberculous meningitis by polymerase chain reaction.
Neurology 1995; 45 : 2228-32.

213. Banchuin N, Wongwajana S, Pumprueg U,
Jearanaisilavong J. Value of an ELISA for mycobacterial
antigen detection as a routine diagnostic test of
pulmonary tuberculosis. Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol
1990; 8 : 5-11.
214. Kadival GV, Mazarelo TB, Chaparas SD. Sensitivity and
specificity of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the
detection of antigen in tuberculous meningitis
cerebrospinal fluids. J Clin Microbiol 1986; 23 : 901-4.

224. Villegas MV, Labrada LA, Saravia NG. Evaluation of
polymerase chain reaction, adenosine deaminase, and
interferon-gamma in pleural fluid for the differential
diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis. Chest 2000; 118 :
1355-64.
225. Reechaipichitkul W, Kawamatawong T, Teerajetgul Y,
Patjanasoontorn B. Diagnostic role of pleural fluid
adenosine deaminase in tuberculous pleural effusion.
Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health 2001;
32 : 383-9.

352

INDIAN J MED RES, OCTOBER 2004

226. Sharma SK, Suresh V, Mohan A, Kaur P, Saha P, Kumar
A, et al. A prospective study of sensitivity and specificity
of adenosine deaminase estimation in the diagnosis of
tuberculosis pleural effusion. Indian J Chest Dis Allied
Sci 2001; 43 : 149-55.
227. Perez-Rodriguez E, Perez Walton IJ, Sanchez
Hernandez JJ, Pallares E, Rubi J, Jimenez Castro D, et
al. ADA1/ADAp ratio in pleural tuberculosis: an
excellent diagnostic parameter in pleural fluid. Respir
Med 1999; 93 : 816-21.
228. Ocana I, Martinez-Vazquez JM, Segura RM, FernandezDe-Sevilla T, Capdevila JA. Adenosine deaminase in
pleural fluids. Test for diagnosis of tuberculous pleural
effusion. Chest 1983; 84 : 51-3.
229. Burgess LJ, Maritz FJ, Le Roux I, Taljaard JJ. Combined
use of pleural adenosine deaminase with lymphocyte/
neutrophil ratio. Increased specificity for the diagnosis
of tuberculous pleuritis. Chest 1996; 109 : 414-9.

238. Denton T, Hossain J. A radiological study of abdominal
tuberculosis in a Saudi population, with special reference
to ultrasound and computed tomography. Clin Radiol
1993; 47 : 409-14.
239. Jain R, Sawhney S, Bhargava DK, Berry M. Diagnosis
of abdominal tuberculosis: sonographic findings in
patients with early disease. AJR Am J Roentgenol 1995;
165 : 1391-5.
240. Sinan T, Sheikh M, Ramadan S, Sahwney S, Behbehani
A. CT features in abdominal tuberculosis: 20 years
experience. BMC Med Imaging 2002; 2 : 3.
241. Kedar RP, Shah PP, Shivde RS, Malde HM. Sonographic
findings in gastrointestinal and peritoneal tuberculosis.
Clin Radiol 1994; 49 : 24-9.
242. Prasad K, Menon GR. Tuberculous meningitis. J Assoc
Physicians India 1997; 45 : 722-9.

230. Dogan R, Demircin M, Sarigul A, Ciliv G, Bozer AY.
Diagnostic value of adenosine deaminase activity in
pericardial fluids. J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino) 1999;
40 : 501-4.

243. Chandramuki A, Lyashchenko K, Kumari HB,
Khanna N, Brusasca P, Gourie-Devi M, et al. Detection
of antibody to Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein
antigens in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with
tuberculous meningitis. J Infect Dis 2002; 186 : 678-83.

231. Burgess LJ, Reuter H, Carstens ME, Taljaard JJ,
Doubell AF. The use of adenosine deaminase and
interferon-gamma as diagnostic tools for tuberculous
pericarditis. Chest 2002; 122 : 900-5.

244. Anuradha S, Kaur R, Singh NP, Baveja UK.
Serodiagnosis of extra pulmonary tuberculosis using A60
antigen.
J Commun Dis 2001; 33 : 12-6.

232. Aggeli C, Pitsavos C, Brili S, Hasapis D, Frogoudaki A,
Stefanadis C, et al. Relevance of adenosine deaminase
and lysozyme measurements in the diagnosis of
tuberculous pericarditis. Cardiology 2000; 94 : 81-5.

245. Alifano M, De Pascalis R, Sofia M, Faraone S, Del
Pezzo M, Covelli I. Detection of IgG and IgA against
the mycobacterial antigen A60 in patients with
extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Thorax 1998; 53 :
377-80.

233. Gambhir IS, Mehta M, Singh DS, Khanna HD. Evaluation
of CSF-adenosine deaminase activity in tubercular
meningitis. J Assoc Physicians India 1999; 47 : 192-4.
234. Mishra OP, Loiwal V, Ali Z, Nath G, Chandra L.
Cerebrospinal fluid adenosine deaminase activity for the
diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis in children.
J Trop Pediatr 1996; 42 : 129-32.
235. Wongtim S, Silachamroon U, Ruxrungtham K,
Udompanich V, Limthongkul S, Charoenlap P, et al.
Interferon gamma for diagnosing tuberculous pleural
effusions. Thorax 1999; 54 : 921-4.
236. Das P, Shukla HS. Clinical diagnosis of abdominal
tuberculosis. Br J Surg 1976; 63 : 941-6.
237. Bhansali SK. The challenge of abdominal tuberculosis
in 310 cases. Indian J Surg 1978; 40 : 65-77.

246. Sharma SK, Mohan A. Adenosine deaminase in the
diagnosis of tuberculosis pleural effusion. Indian J Chest
Dis Allied Sci 1996; 38 : 69-71.
247. Blumberg HM, Burman WJ, Chaisson RE, Daley CL,
Etkind SC, Friedman LN, et al. American Thoracic
Society, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and
the Infectious Diseases Society. American Thoracic
Society/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/
Infectious Diseases Society of America: treatment of
tuberculosis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2003;
167 : 603-62.
248. Sharma SK, Balamurugan A, Saha PK, Pandey RM,
Mehra NK. Evaluation of clinical and immunogenetic
risk factors for the development of hepatotoxicity during
antituberculosis treatment. Am J Respir Crit Care Med
2002; 166 : 916-9.

SHARMA & MOHAN: EXTRAPULMONARY TB
249. Bothamley GH. Treatment, tuberculosis, and human
leukocyte antigen. Am J Respir Crit Care Med
2002; 166 : 907-8.
250. Dooley DP, Carpenter JL, Rademacher S. Adjunctive
corticosteroid therapy for tuberculosis: a critical
reappraisal of the literature. Clin Infect Dis 1997;
25 : 872-87.
251 Wyser C, Walzl G, Smedema JP, Swart F, van
Schalkwyk EM, van de Wal BW. Corticosteroids in the
treatment of tuberculous pleurisy. A double-blind,
placebo-controlled, randomized study. Chest 1996; 110
: 333-8.

353

255. Kumarvelu S, Prasad K, Khosla A, Behari M, Ahuja GK.
Randomized controlled trial of dexamethasone in
tuberculous meningitis. Tuber Lung Dis 1994;
75 : 203-7.
256. Hakim JG, Ternouth I, Mushangi E, Siziya S,
Robertson V, Malin A. Double blind randomised placebo
controlled trial of adjunctive prednisolone in the
treatment of effusive tuberculous pericarditis in HIV
seropositive patients. Heart 2000; 84 : 183-8.
257. Prasad K, Volmink J, Menon GR. Steroids for treating
tuberculous meningitis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev
2000; 3 : CD002244.

252. Galarza I, Canete C, Granados A, Estopa R, Manresa F.
Randomised trial of corticosteroids in the treatment of
tuberculous pleurisy. Thorax 1995; 50 : 1305-7.

258. Matchaba PT, Volmink J. Steroids for treating
tuberculous pleurisy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2000;
2 : CD001876.

253. Lee CH, Wang WJ, Lan RS, Tsai YH, Chiang YC.
Corticosteroids in the treatment of tuberculous pleurisy.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study.
Chest 1988; 94 : 1256-9.

259. World Health Organization. The use of antiretroviral
therapy: a simplified approach for resource-limited
countries. New Delhi: World Health Organization
Regional Office for South-East Asia; 2002.

254. Girgis NI, Farid Z, Kilpatrick ME, Sultan Y, Mikhail
IA. Dexamethasone adjunctive treatment for tuberculous
meningitis. Pediatr Infect Dis J 1991; 10 : 179-83.

260. Wanchu A, Sud A, Bambery P, Singh S. Paradoxical
reaction in HIV and tuberculosis coinfection. J Assoc
Physicians India 2002; 50 : 588-9.

Reprint requests: Dr S.K. Sharma, Professor & Head, Department of Medicine and Chief, Division of Pulmonary and
Critical Care Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029, India
e-mail: [email protected]