Recognizing the Unexpected: a Rare Cause of Rice Bodies in Brucellosis

Abstract

Brucella is a gram-negative zoonotic agent transmitted by consumption of raw milk and infected meat. Among musculoskeletal manifestations, axial involvement such as spondylodiscitis and sacroiliitis is well documented, while peripheral manifestations like tenosynovitis and rice bodies remain underreported. In this case, flexor tenosynovitis and associated rice body involvement due to Brucella, which developed progressive swelling, pain, and restricted movement in the wrist and third finger of the hand after a minor abrasion, were investigated ultrasonographically. As far as we know, this is the first reported case of primary brucellosis with flexor tenosynovitis and associated rice bodies demonstrated ultrasonographically in the literature.