Asian Journal of Research and Reports in Gastroenterology

Isolated Pancreatic Tuberculosis: Report of Two Cases

Choukri El-Mehdi

Digestive Cancer Surgery and Liver Transplantation Department, University Hospital Center Ibn Rochd, Casablanca, Morocco.

Boufettal Rachid

Digestive Cancer Surgery and Liver Transplantation Department, University Hospital Center Ibn Rochd, Casablanca, Morocco.

Hajri Amal

Digestive Cancer Surgery and Liver Transplantation Department, University Hospital Center Ibn Rochd, Casablanca, Morocco.

Erreguibi Driss

Digestive Cancer Surgery and Liver Transplantation Department, University Hospital Center Ibn Rochd, Casablanca, Morocco.

Rifki Jai Saad

Digestive Cancer Surgery and Liver Transplantation Department, University Hospital Center Ibn Rochd, Casablanca, Morocco.

Chehab Farid

Digestive Cancer Surgery and Liver Transplantation Department, University Hospital Center Ibn Rochd, Casablanca, Morocco.

Nacer Sara *

Hepato-Gastroenterology Department, University Hospital Center Ibn Rochd, Casablanca, Morocco.

Haddad Fouad

Hepato-Gastroenterology Department, University Hospital Center Ibn Rochd, Casablanca, Morocco.

El Rhaoussi Fatima-Zahra

Hepato-Gastroenterology Department, University Hospital Center Ibn Rochd, Casablanca, Morocco.

Tahiri Mohamed

Hepato-Gastroenterology Department, University Hospital Center Ibn Rochd, Casablanca, Morocco.

Hliwa Wafaa

Hepato-Gastroenterology Department, University Hospital Center Ibn Rochd, Casablanca, Morocco.

Bellabah Ahmed

Hepato-Gastroenterology Department, University Hospital Center Ibn Rochd, Casablanca, Morocco.

Badre Wafaa

Hepato-Gastroenterology Department, University Hospital Center Ibn Rochd, Casablanca, Morocco.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

---

Abstract

Isolated pancreatic tuberculosis (PT) remains a rare entity even in countries where the disease is highly prevalent. It frequently presents as a mass mimicking a pancreatic malignancy. Therefore, it represents a diagnostic challenge. We report a case of a 27 years old woman who was admitted to surgery department after 3 weeks of epigastric abdominal pain and jaundice. The radiological findings revealed the presence of a pancreatic mass and multiple abdominal lymphadenopathy, suggestive of malignancy. Exploratory laparotomy with biopsy of peripancreatic lymph node confirmed the diagnosis of pancreatic tuberculosis.

The second patient presented with heterogeneous necrotic mass in the pancreatic body. Computed tomography (CT)-guided biopsy made the diagnosis of pancreatic tuberculosis.

The two patients were given antituberculous therapy and are now doing well.

The diagnosis of PT should be considered when a pancreatic mass is observed to avoid misdiagnosis and establish early treatment.

Keywords: Pancreas, tuberculosis, antituberculous therapy

---

---

---

References

Cho SB. Pancreatic tuberculosis presenting with pancreatic cystic tumor: a case report and review of the literature. Korean J Gastroenterol. 2009;53:324-8. PMID: 19458471.

DOI: 10.4166/kjg.2009.53.5.324.

Raghavan P, Rajan D. Isolated pancreatic tuberculosis mimicking malignancy in an immunocompetent host. Case Rep Med. 2012;2012:501246. Epub 2012 Apr 24. PMID: 22761624; PMCID: PMC3382406

DOI: 10.1155/2012/501246

Margekar SL, Meena RK, Kapoor S, Dhamija RK. Pancreatic tuberculosis: An unusual presentation. Natl Med J India. 2021;34(2):86-87. PMID: 34599118

DOI: 10.4103/0970-258X.326765

Seifeddine Ben Hammouda, Amina Chaka, Manel Njima, Ibtissem Korbi, Hanen Zenati, Abdelfatteh Zakhama, Rim Hadhri, Khadija Zouari: Primary pancreatic tuberculosis mimicking pancreatic body cancer. A case report and review of the literature, Annals of Medicine and Surgery. 2020;58:80-83, ISSN 2049-0801

Available:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2020.08.040

Konan Bharat, Chellappa Vijayakumar, Elamurugan TP, Sudharsanan Sundaramurthi, Sadasivan Jagdish. Primary pancreatic tuberculosis: A rare case report. Advanced Research in Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2019; 13(2).

DOI: 10.19080/ARGH.2019.13.555858

The WHO Global Tuberculosis 2021 Report.

Vafa H, Arvanitakis M, Matos C, Demetter P, Eisendrath P, Toussaint E, Hittelet AB, Deviere J, Delhaye M. Pancreatic tuberculosis diagnosed by EUS: one disease, many faces. JOP. 2013; 14(3):256-60. PMID: 23669474

DOI: 10.6092/1590-8577/1355

Sharma V, Rana SS, Kumar A, Bhasin DK. Pancreatic tuberculosis. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2016;31(2):310-8.

PMID: 26414325

DOI: 10.1111/jgh.13174

Wu G, Fan Q. Pancreatic tuberculosis: A clinical diagnostic challenge. ANZ J Surg. 2021;91(4):747-749. PMID: 32797708

DOI: 10.1111/ans.16249. Epub 2020 Aug 14.

Abbaszadeh M, Rezai J, Hasibi M, Larry M, Ostovaneh MR, Javidanbardan S, Mirbagheri SA. Pancreatic Tuberculosis in an Immunocompetent Patient: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. Middle East J Dig Dis. 2017;9(4):239-241. PMID: 29255583

DOI: 10.15171/mejdd.2017.80