title: Coexistence of tuberculous peritonitis and primary papillary serous carcinoma of the peritoneum: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: A major diagnostic challenge to the evaluation of an incomplete intestinal obstruction is to distinguish between infectious and malignant etiologies. We present a case of an elderly woman complaining of abdominal pain accompanied with nausea and vomiting, and failure to pass gas or stools. Anti-tuberculosis drugs were used to relieve her abdominal pain, and a needle biopsy of the peritoneal cavity showed evidence of primary papillary serous carcinoma of the peritoneum (PSCP). This is a rare description of tuberculosis in the setting of PSCP. This report illustrates the potential complex nature of malignancies, and emphasizes the need to consider coexistence of malignancy and infection in patients, especially in those with risk factors for malignancy who fail with antibiotic therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250021, Shandong Province, China. xingjinsd@yahoo.cn
authors.forename: Xiang-Qian
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Hai-Hong
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018283:Cystadenocarcinoma, Papillary / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D014395:Peritonitis, Tuberculous / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology; D014374:Tuberculin Test
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents