May a prostate nodulation be tuberculosis: a case report

Abstract

Tuberculosis (Tb) is not an exclusive disease of developing countries anymore. Actually, Tb infections began increasing in developed countries. Isolated prostate tuberculosis is rare and often it may mimic prostate cancer especially in the elderly. Diagnosis of prostate tuberculosis depends on histopathological examination and treatment is essentially antibacillary. A literature review showed that the recrudescence of this infection is due to the emergence of resistant bacilli, human migration and the AIDS epidemic. Greater knowledge of this infectious disease is relevant in both developed and developing countries. Authors report herein the case of 78-year-old immune-competent man who presented with lower urinary tract symptoms. Clinical examination revealed an enlarged prostate with firm consistency and one firm nodulation. Prostate cancer was suspected despite a normal PSA rate. The patient underwent a transrectal biopsy and histological examination showed tuberculosis lesions. No other location of tuberculosis was found.

Keywords

• tuberculosis
• urogenital
• prostate neoplasms