title: Diagnosis of culture-negative female genital tract tuberculosis with peritoneal involvement by polymerase chain reaction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Female genital tract tuberculosis (TB) is a common cause of infertility in developing countries. It is a paucibacillary form of the disease of which smears and cultures are usually negative.
  
  
  METHODS
  We were able to use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA to support a clinical and histologic diagnosis of a typical case of culture negative female genital tract TB.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PCR may be a useful adjunct to diagnostic efforts in gynecologic tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease and Gynecological Oncology Services, Brooke Army Medical Center, 3851 Roger Brooke Drive, Building 3600, Ft. Sam Houston, TX 78234, USA. sue.baum@cen.amedd.army.mil
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Baum
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Dooley
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Kost
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Storey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014384:Tuberculosis, Female Genital / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial