Poncet disease in a patient with smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis: A case report

Abstract

Pulmonary tuberculosis poses a diagnostic dilemma to clinicians especially in the absence of typical presentation. The hypersensitivity to tuberculosis infection in other parts of the body can lead to nondestructive, para-infectious arthritis. This is known as Poncet disease, one of the clinical syndromes of musculoskeletal tuberculosis. Herein, we report a case of smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis presenting with atypical features. It started with multiple joint pain, followed by the presence of multiple tender nodular skin lesions over the bilateral shins and wrist. Subsequent investigations led to the diagnosis of smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis. Joint pain and erythema nodosum disappeared soon after antituberculosis therapy, supporting the diagnosis of Poncet disease.