A patient presenting with a pelvic mass, elevated CA-125, and fever.
BACKGROUND
Tuberculous peritonitis is a rare event which can mimic advanced stage ovarian cancer. A pelvic mass and an elevated CA-125 is suggestive of an ovarian malignancy; however, benign conditions may be discovered, especially in the premenopausal patient.


METHODS
A patient with a pelvic mass, ascites, and an elevated CA-125 underwent an exploratory laparotomy for presumed ovarian cancer. Final pathology revealed pelvic tuberculosis without any pulmonary involvement. Acid-fast bacilli were confirmed with polymerase chain reaction in the surgical specimen.


CONCLUSIONS
Pelvic tuberculosis is an uncommon gynecologic condition that presents with ascites, a pelvic mass, and fever. An elevated CA-125 is not specific for ovarian malignancy.
Straughn
J M
JM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35233, USA.
Robertson
M W
MW
Partridge
E E
EE
D000328:Adult; D001201:Ascites / Q000209:etiology; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014395:Peritonitis, Tuberculous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology
D018394:CA-125 Antigen