Tuberculosis typically affects the lungs. However, it can affect any organ of the body other than the lungs. The condition when tuberculosis affects other organs of the body than the lungs is called extrapulmonary TB. Some of the most common locations that are likely to get affected include the pleura (exterior covering of the lungs), lymph nodes, skin, abdomen, joints and bones in any part of the body, genitourinary tract, pericardium (a double-walled sac that encloses the heart) as well as the meninges (the protective layer of the brain).

Like in pulmonary TB, there is a possibility of the disease spreading to adjacent organs in extrapulmonary TB as well. Additionally, it is also likely that the lungs get infected with TB along with some other parts of the body. In this case, instead of extrapulmonary TB, the condition is classified as pulmonary TB. The symptoms of extrapulmonary TB are similar to that of pulmonary TB and the same medications used for the latter are given to these patients.