The pancreas and tuberculosis: a diagnostic challenge.
Pancreatic tuberculosis is often mistaken for malignancy and can pose a diagnostic challenge. A high degree of suspicion is necessary to diagnose this condition which responds well to anti-tuberculosis treatment (ATT). Fine-needle aspiration cytology helps to differentiate malignancy from treatable conditions like tuberculosis. Records of four patients treated for pancreatic tuberculosis between 1997 and 2006 were studied. All patients had a pancreatic mass which was suspected to be malignant at imaging. The diagnosis of tuberculosis was established by FNAC in one case and after laparotomy in one; two had tuberculosis of other systems. All showed good response to ATT which included resolution of the pancreatic mass over mean follow up of 2 years. We suggest that all inoperable masses of the pancreas should be subjected to FNAC to rule out treatable conditions like pancreatic tuberculosis.
David
Arun Wesley Solkar
AW
Department of Surgery, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India. arunwsdavid@yahoo.com
Eapen
Anu
A
Vyas
Frederick L
FL
Joseph
Philip
P
Sitaram
Venkatramani
V
D000328:Adult; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis*