Disseminated tuberculosis in a non immun compromised patient with a complicated diagnosis

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) has become a global emergency worldwide. The long time period between the exposure to TB bacillus and the onset of symptoms cause a delay in diagnosis. Herein, we report a case of 64-year-old female patient suffering from dyspepsia, anorexia, weight loss and abdominal pain for the last 8 months. Physical examination, ascites fluid evaluation, chest radiography, ultrasonographic and tomographic scans, histopathological analysis of the lymphadenopathy (LAP) and endometrial tissue revealed TB. A fourfold antituberculous treatment with isoniazid, pyrazinamide, rifampicin and ethambutol was prescribed for two months and for four months maintenance therapy with isoniazid and rifampicin was given. On the fourth month of the medical treatment the patient clinically recovered. Since the diagnosis of TB is difficult, high grade suspicion, combination of the radiologic, microbiologic and histopathological examinations are needed to achieve a diagnosis.

Keywords

• Ascites
• Tuberculosis
• Diagnostic methods