Sarcoidosis of the fallopian tube: A rare case study with confirmed Propionibacterium acnes infection

J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2019 Jan;45(1):235-238. doi: 10.1111/jog.13800. Epub 2018 Sep 3.

Abstract

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease that is most commonly manifested in the pulmonary system. Though the entire etiology of sarcoidosis remains unknown, it has been reported that Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) has been isolated from sarcoid lesions. Herein, we report a case of salpingitis arising from sarcoidosis. A female patient aged 37 years, gravida 2 para 0, who had been diagnosed with sarcoidosis at the age of 36 years, underwent laparoscopic right salpingectomy due to obvious right hydrosalpinx with recurrent refractory right lower abdominal pain. The pathological diagnosis was granulomatous salpingitis of the right fallopian tube suspecting sarcoidosis. Immunocytochemistry using a specific monoclonal antibody against P. acnes lipoteichoic acid (PAB antibody) revealed PAB-positive reaction in sarcoid granuloma. This is the first case of sarcoidosis that the presence of P. acnes was shown in sarcoid lesions in the fallopian tube.

Keywords: PAB antibody; Propionibacterium acnes; fallopian tube; sarcoidosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / complications*
  • Humans
  • Laparoscopy
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious* / etiology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious* / microbiology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious* / surgery
  • Propionibacterium acnes / pathogenicity*
  • Salpingectomy
  • Salpingitis* / etiology
  • Salpingitis* / microbiology
  • Salpingitis* / surgery
  • Sarcoidosis / complications*