# Primary iliac bone tuberculosis: a case report

## TL;DR

This paper presents a rare case of primary iliac bone tuberculosis in a 63-year-old patient, highlighting the challenges in diagnosis and the role of advanced molecular tools like GeneXpert®.

## Contribution

The novelty lies in reporting a rare case of primary iliac bone TB and demonstrating the effectiveness of GeneXpert® in confirming the diagnosis.

## Key findings

- Primary iliac bone TB is rare and can mimic other bone diseases, making diagnosis difficult.
- GeneXpert® on a gluteal collection sample confirmed TB, aiding in rapid and accurate diagnosis.
- The patient had a complex medical history, including diabetes and kidney disease, complicating management.

## Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the world’s leading causes of morbidity and mortality. It occurs in both pulmonary and extra-pulmonary forms. Primary iliac bone TB remains a rare clinical entity, even in endemic areas. The diagnosis of the disease can be challenging due to its similarity to other bone diseases. We report a rare case of primary iliac bone TB in a 63-year-old patient who was on peritoneal dialysis and had a medical history of hypertension and type II diabetes, which was complicated by diabetic retinopathy and diabetic kidney disease. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed osteomyelitis in the iliac bone, while real-time polymerase chain reaction using the GeneXpert® system on a gluteal collection sample confirmed the diagnosis of TB. The integration of advanced molecular tools, such as GeneXpert®, represents significant progress, enabling rapid and accurate diagnosis of TB and facilitating early initiation of treatment.