[Isolated tuberculosis of the tarsal bones].

Although rare, isolated bone-tuberculosis of the foot merits attention. In early stages complete healing without any residual destruction can be achieved with chemotherapeutics. Therefore, when chronic inflammatory processes or tumors are biopsied, specimens should also be sent for mycobacterial testing. Tuberculosis has to be borne in mind as a cause for chronic inflammatory processes particularly in the elderly and in high risk patients (e.g. immunocompromised patients, drug abusers, HIV patients, migrants) and testing for tuberculosis has to be considered even in patients with negative tuberculin skin testing according to Mendel-Mantoux.