Tuberculosis Mimicking Disseminated Peritoneal Carcinomatosis of a Sigmoid Carcinoma

J Gastrointest Surg. 2019 Apr;23(4):877-878. doi: 10.1007/s11605-018-3800-3. Epub 2018 May 7.

Abstract

Background: A 76-year-old Moroccan patient with a medical history of sigmoid carcinoma suffered from weight loss of 15 kg and abdominal pain. Laparoscopy showed disseminated miliary peritoneal lesions, prima vista suspicious for disseminated peritoneal cancer spread.

Methods: Patient's medical history was reprocessed and compared to recent literature via PubMed.

Results: Pathological evaluation revealed granulomas and an infection with miliary intraabdominal tuberculosis (TB) was proven.

Conclusion: Symptoms of TB may vary and findings can be misleading. An interdisciplinary approach is needed for diagnosis and treatment.

Keywords: Granuloma; Miliary abdominal lesions; Peritoneal carcinomatosis; Sigmoid carcinoma; Tuberculosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Carcinoma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Carcinoma / secondary
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Laparoscopy
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / secondary
  • Peritoneum / pathology
  • Peritonitis, Tuberculous / diagnostic imaging*
  • Peritonitis, Tuberculous / pathology*
  • Sigmoid Neoplasms / pathology*