Endometrial Tuberculosis Simulating an Ovarian Cancer: a case report

Female genital tuberculosis remains a major health problem in developing countries and is an important cause of infertility. As symptoms, laboratory data and physical findings are non-specific, its diagnosis can be difficult. We describe a case of a 39-year-old woman suffering from peri-umbilical p...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Silvia Eleonora Di Giovanni, Teresa Margarida Cunha, Ana Luisa Duarte, Ines Alves
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Ordem dos Médicos 2016-06-01
Series:Acta Médica Portuguesa
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/7706
Description
Summary:Female genital tuberculosis remains a major health problem in developing countries and is an important cause of infertility. As symptoms, laboratory data and physical findings are non-specific, its diagnosis can be difficult. We describe a case of a 39-year-old woman suffering from peri-umbilical pain and increased abdominal size for one year, anorexia, asthenia, weight loss, occasionally dysuria and dyspareunia, and four months amenorrhea. Laboratory data revealed cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) level of 132.3 U/mL, erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 42 mm/h, and gamma-globulins of 2.66 g/dL. Computed tomography scan showed loculated ascites. It was initially suspected a carcinomatous origin, but ascites evaluation was negative for malignant cells. Magnetic resonance imaging from another hospital showed endometrial heterogeneity. Therefore, an endometrial biopsy was performed demonstrating an inflammatory infiltrate with giant cells of type Langhans and bacteriological culture identified Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
ISSN:0870-399X
1646-0758