Calvarial tuberculosis: A rare complication of tuberculous mastoiditis

Summary 

Tuberculous mastoiditis is a well-documented entity, but tuberculous osteitis of the skull is a rare phenomenon. The majority of cases of calvarial tuberculosis (TB) are secondary to pulmonary TB. The most common routes of infection are via the haematogenous or lymphatic route, but direct extension can also occur. We present a rare case of a 17-year-old male patient who presented with tuberculous osteitis of the skull complicated with sigmoid sinus thrombosis and an extradural abscess, following direct extension from tuberculous mastoiditis. Only one similar case has been reported in the literature. We review the world literature regarding this rare phenomenon.

Keywords: Mastoiditis, Osteitis, Tuberculosis