Chest pain and a left parasternal soft tissue swelling in an immunocompetent refugee with disseminated tuberculosis

Abstract

An immunocompetent migrant with chest pain was admitted to an Italian hospital. Computed tomography showed a left pectoral abscess and osteomyelitis of the sternum. The infection had spread into the anterior mediastinum near to the pericardium and the heart, where an atrial mass was confirmed by echocardiography. Disseminated tuberculosis was diagnosed.

Keywords: Bronchoscopy; Disseminated tuberculosis; Heart mass; Migration; TB.