title: [A case of peritoneal tuberculosis. Contribution of mini-endoscopy].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tuberculosis in the genital and peritoneal region is increasing in last years. For this reason, the high value and efficacy of laparoscopy using a small caliber endoscope for the diagnosis of this disease, which often presents no specific and heterogeneous clinical features, is underlined.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case of peritoneal tuberculosis in a young female presenting fever, asthenia and peritoneal effusion, is reported. Blood tests, X-ray and cytological examination of the peritoneal fluid all failed to point out the right diagnosis. Then multiple biopsies of the peritoneum and the external surface of uterus and ovaries were made using laparoscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Laparoscopy clearly showed the miliary nodules. The histology showed multiple granulomas composed by inner caseous necrosis and outer layer of epithelioid histiocytes and Langhans cells, leading thus to the diagnosis of peritoneal tuberculosis. The patient, treated with streptomycin and rifampicin, five months after diagnosis, did not show any feature of tubercular disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because of its safety, laparoscopy is a very useful and powerful diagnostic technique especially in those young women presenting with painful abdominal symptoms without any clear evident cause.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Ostetricia e Ginecologia, Ospedale Curteri, Mercato S. Severino, Salerno.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iannello
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Botti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020706:Laparoscopes; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000473:pathology; D014395:Peritonitis, Tuberculous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014384:Tuberculosis, Female Genital / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D007538:Isoniazid; D012293:Rifampin
vernacular_title: Un caso di tubercolosi peritoneale. Contributo della miniendoscopia.