A 35-year-old man presents with a painless, slowly enlarging swelling over the left parietal region of the skull for 6 months. There is no local warmth. Radiograph shows a punched-out lytic lesion with a sequestrum. Aspiration yields caseous material. Which statement about tuberculosis of the skull is correct?

• A It is rare and presents as a painless swelling with a punched-out lytic lesion and sequestrum ✓
• B It typically presents with severe localized headache and high-grade fever
• C It is the most common site of bone tuberculosis after the spine
• D It characteristically involves the frontal bone and spares the parietal bone

Explanation

Tuberculosis of the skull is rare, accounting for less than 1% of skeletal TB. It presents as a painless swelling with a punched-out lytic lesion and sequestrum on radiograph. The parietal bone is more commonly involved than the frontal bone. It is not the most common site after the spine; long bones and joints are more frequently affected.

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.