Gastric Tuberculosis Masquerading as Persistent Epigastric Pain in an Immunocompetent Patient: A Case Report

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis , is a leading infectious disease with varied manifestations. We report a rare presentation of gastric TB in a 50-year-old immunocompetent woman from the Middle East with no prior medical history. The patient presented with persistent epigastric pain, weight loss, nausea, and vomiting over a 2-month duration. Imaging studies and an infectious disease panel were inconclusive. However, upper endoscopy revealed a subepithelial lesion at the pylorus, with biopsies demonstrating caseating granuloma and multinucleated giant cells. A QuantiFERON test was subsequently positive for TB. The patient was successfully treated with standard TB quadruple therapy, resulting in significant improvement in symptoms during follow-up. This case underscores the importance of considering extrapulmonary TB in immunocompetent patients with atypical gastrointestinal symptoms and highlights the efficacy of prompt antitubercular therapy.