Abdominal cyst of unclear aetiology: gastrointestinal stromal tumour or reactivation of abdominal tuberculosis. Issue 1 (6th January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Saxena, Damini; Duncan, Robert A; Faust, Robert R; Campagna, Anthony
• Is Part Of: BMJ case reports. Volume 15:Issue 1(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-01-06
• Subjects: stomach and duodenum -- drugs: infectious diseases -- TB and other respiratory infections -- gastric cancer -- pathology; Medicine -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2021-245767
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-790X

Abstract

Abstract : Differential diagnosis of a new abdominal mass is broad and includes infection, malignancy and other inflammatory processes. Definitive diagnosis may be challenging without invasive biopsy, as history, physical exam and imaging may be non-specific. A 69-year-old man with a history of abdominal tuberculosis presented with a new painful abdominal cyst consistent with reactivation of tuberculosis versus new malignancy. Investigations revealed 4+ acid-fast bacilli from the aspirate suggestive of tuberculosis, but no improvement was noted on antituberculous therapy. Core needle biopsy noted c-KIT-positive spindle cells, diagnostic for a gastrointestinal stromal tumour, while cultures grew non-tuberculous mycobacteria.