TB of the collarbone

[Dee Sa]

I have never heard of this, but a pal has said that their relation has TB of the collarbone, can anyone enlighten me pls ?

[campbellking]

TB is most common in the lungs (pulmonary TB), but can also be seen in the bones. Common symptom is weakness leding to fracture. I work at a hospital, and more commonly see patients who have had TB of the spine, can't say I've ever seen a patient with it in their collarbone.

[sqad617]

I agree with campbelking.....I have NEVER known TB to affect the collarbone.

[Dee Sa]

I didnt believe it either ! thats why I asked.
many tks Dee

[sqad617]

Hold it..........it CAN occur, but very very rarely. About 20 CASES recorded in the past 50 yrs.

So tread carefully with your mate. LOL

[gelda]

I had TB in my knee some years ago, it was so rare that it took a year to diagnose it. A couple of years later I had a swelling in my neck and was told I had a virus, that turned out to be TB as well, in a gland, The specialist said it was a different strain of TB ( bovine TB ) and can turn up in any part of the body. The good thing about Bovine TB is that it isn't contagious or infectious unlike pulmonary Tb, so yes Dee Sa it is possible. ( Google it Sqad ! )
( I was on antibiotics for a couple of years which cleared both cases up )

[sqad617]

Gelda...I think that what you had was a TB gland of neck....that is well recorded paticularly before milk was TB tested.

That is quite different from TB of the collar bone.

[gelda]

Yes but I also had it in my knee !!

[gelda]

The specialist said it could affect any bone in the body or any organ, in fact he told me he was operating on someone for something not connected to TB and found TB scars on the patients large bowel.

[sqad617]

Dee/Gelda....have searced the medical literature and have come up with the following:

http://www.ispub.com/journal/the_internet_jour nal_of_orthopedic_surgery/volume_11_number_2_4 /article/isolated_clavicle_bone_tuberculosis.h tml

Bottom line is that TB can affect the clavicle (collar bone) but it is so rare that when it occurs, it is worth recording.
20 cases in 50 yrs world wide...........almost, not completely, as common as "Rocking Horse Manure"

Interesting question which has taught me a lot.

[Dee Sa]

I stand corrected, many thanks for all the replies.have a nice Sunday everyone.
Dee

[gelda]

Sqad, when I got it first in my knee, the specialist said it was very rare which was why it wasn't diagnosed for such a long time, he said the last case he saw in the knee was about 15 years ago, people look at me very strangely when I say I've had it in my knee and gland !! I suppose if you don't know much about it you always associate it with lung disease. Looking at that article I remember the names of all those drugs I had to take. Glad you believe me now :}

[sqad617]

Gelda...good morning....I NEVER did disbelieve you.

Take care.

[gelda]

Thanks Sqad x

[garner]

Like gelda, my husband had TB in his hand, took the hospital 1 3/4 years to diagnose it.Took a year and a half to clear it.It all happened through a cat scratch [feral cat] which must have had the tuberculosis in his claws[soil ]contamination we were told.so everyone be well aware of feral cats, that's what you can end up with, when doing a good turn by feeding them.g.