Case report and review: Potts disease and epididymal tuberculosis presenting as back pain and scrotal mass

Tuberculosis (TB) is the world's leading infectious disease killer after AIDS [Tubercle. 1991;72:1-6; Lancet. 2003;362(9387):887-899]. Vertebral TB is the most common form of skeletal TB [Spine. 1997; 22(15):1791-1797], whereas male genital TB is an uncommon form of extrapulmonary TB [Urol Clin North Am. 2003;30(1):111-121]. We present the case of a man who presented to the emergency department with a history of acute on chronic back pain and an incidental scrotal mass. He was subsequently diagnosed with tuberculosis spondylitis (Potts disease) and epididymal tuberculosis. The epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of tuberculosis spondylitis are discussed.