Abstract

Mycobacterium tuberculosis still remains a substantial global threat due to ill defined mechanisms that enable this organism to persist and replicate. Although molecular methods have revolutionized the diagnostic techniques in tuberculosis, yet a conventional simple microscopy remains the most cheap, easy and simple method for its diagnosis. The only requirement for the same is a trained eye to identify different pleomorphic forms of acid fast bacilli from the clinical specimen. We present here a case report of tubercular lumbar abscess with an unusual morphology.

Key words: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, morphology, microscopy.