Extrapulmonary tuberculosis, epidemiology and patterns in Saudi Arabia

Annual incidence rates of extrapulmonary tuberculosis have been increasing over the last few years in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. True rates may even be higher due to incomplete reporting. Diagnosis of this condition requires high clinical suspicion, special diagnostic procedures, special staining, and culture media for acid fast bacilli. Delayed diagnosis results in increasing morbidity, mortality, and cost to the health care system. Particularly in areas of high endemicity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, clinicians should be aware of the various forms of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. The available epidemiology and patterns of various forms of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are presented in this review.