Specific synovitis of a knee as the first manifestation of miliary tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis (TB) is declared global emergency. Miliary TB is a treatable, potentially lethal form of TB resulting from massive lympho-hematogenous dissemination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Impaired cell-mediated immunity underlies the disease's development. We present a case of specific synovitis in a 21-year-old Caucasian HIV-seronegative woman. She presented with high fever and swelling of the right knee. Chest radiograph revealed bilateral nodular opacities in upper pulmonary lobes and signs of pleural effusions. Sputum samples were negative for Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) and Löwenstein-Jensen (L-J) culture negative. Diagnosis was confirmed histologically by pleural biopsy and positive L-J cultures of knee puncture, also documented by MRI. Treatment outcome was successful with anti-tuberculous drugs following standardized treatment regimen.