A 55-year-old man presents with a painless swelling over the right anterior chest wall for 4 months. There is no local warmth. Chest X-ray shows a lesion in the 7th rib with a surrounding soft tissue shadow. Aspiration yields caseous material. Which rib is most commonly involved in skeletal tuberculosis?
- A First rib
- B Seventh rib ✓
- C Fifth rib
- D Third rib
Correct answer: B. Seventh rib
Explanation
Rib tuberculosis most commonly affects the 5th to 8th ribs, with the 7th rib being the most frequently involved. It presents as a painless chest wall swelling or cold abscess without signs of acute inflammation. The first rib is rarely involved. Diagnosis is confirmed by caseous material on aspiration or biopsy.
Reference: Bailey and Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 28th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.