Report of two rare manifestations of abdominal tuberculosis mimicking neoplasia. Issue 3 (30th March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Faulhaber, Senta; Schindera, Sebastian; Hartel, Mark; Gräfitsch, Alexander
• Is Part Of: Journal of surgical case reports. Volume 2022:Issue 3(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-03-30
• Subjects: abdominal tuberculosis -- tuberculous peritonitis -- pancreatic tuberculosis -- pseudotumor -- intestinal -- obstruction -- surgery; Surgery -- Periodicals; Surgery -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 617.005
• DOI: 10.1093/jscr/rjac079
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2042-8812

Abstract

Abstract: Abdominal tuberculosis (TB) can affect any organ of the gastrointestinal tract, and as a result of its unspecific symptoms, it may even mimic neoplasia. Rare manifestations are difficult to detect even for the trained eye and require clinical suspicion. We report rare cases of a mechanical ileus due to peritoneal TB in a 41-year-old man and an isolated peripancreatic infection in a 54-year-old woman. While in one patient, suspected malignancy led to diagnostic laparoscopy, it led to a total pancreatectomy with splenectomy in the other case. However, both times histology ruled out malignancy and showed unexpected similarities with TB. The patients responded well to medical treatment, although one patient is struggling with pancreatogenic diabetes.