Culture-Negative Primary Sternal Osteomyelitis in a Patient with Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Authors

David H Chan, HCA HealthcareFollow
Michael T. Lee, HCA HealthcareFollow
Amy Q. Zhang, HCA HealthcareFollow
Erinn H. Ton, HCA HealthcareFollow
Shyh-Jeun Wang

Division

Far West

Hospital

Southern Hills Hospital & Medical Center

Document Type

Case Report

Publication Date

6-18-2022

Keywords

Culture-negative, Diabetes mellitus type 2, Primary sternal osteomyelitis

Disciplines

Bacterial Infections and Mycoses | Musculoskeletal Diseases | Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases | Radiology

Abstract

Primary sternal osteomyelitis (PSO) is a rare condition defined as an infection of the sternal bone marrow with no contiguous source of infection. The overlap in symptoms of PSO with other cutaneous and malignant pathologies often leads to misdiagnosis and delay of appropriate care. In this case report, we outline the presentation of PSO in a 30 year-old male patient who was newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The patient was successfully treated with antibiotic therapy alone, without need for surgical intervention. Interestingly, the patient's workup returned with negative microbial cultures. To our knowledge, this patient represents the first reported case of a spontaneously presenting, culture-negative PSO.

Publisher or Conference

Radiology Case Reports

Recommended Citation

Chan DH, Lee MT, Zhang AQ, Ton EH, Wang SJ. Culture-negative primary sternal osteomyelitis in a patient with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus. Radiol Case Rep. 2022;17(9):3019-3024. doi:10.1016/j.radcr.2022.05.086