title: Laparoscopic diagnosis of splenic tuberculosis.
abstract: Isolated tuberculous splenic microabscesses are uncommon except in immunocompromized patients. The diagnosis is often made after splenectomy and histologic examination of the spleen. We report here a case of splenic tuberculosis in an immuno-competent patient. The diagnosis was made solely by laparoscopic biopsy of the spleen without the need for splenectomy. The patient was started on antituberculosis therapy with marked recovery. We believe that this might be the first reported case of isolated splenic tuberculosis ever diagnosed by laparoscopy only.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Specialties, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. meshikhes@doctor.com
authors.forename: Abdul-Wahed N
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Meshikhes
authors.forename: Sami A-M
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Al-Momen
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology; D000328:Adult; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology; D014400:Tuberculosis, Splenic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology