title: Diagnostic dilemma of abdominopelvic tuberculosis:a series of 20 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish more effective diagnostic procedures to identify the characteristic features of abdominopelvic tuberculosis (APTB) mimicking advanced ovarian cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of 20 cases of APTB mimicking advanced ovarian cancer was undertaken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the patients was 28.9 ± 10.8 years. The main clinical manifestations were abdominal pain (45%) and distention (45%). CA125 level was elevated in 18 cases (90.0%). Pelvic mass in 18 patients (90.0%) and ascites in 12 patients (60.0%) were detected by using abdominal US. The bacteriologic cultures and cytological studies were all negative (10 cases, 100%). Laparotomy (17 cases) and laparoscopic evaluation (1 case) was performed with the presumptive diagnosis of advanced ovarian cancer except for 2 patients treated with diagnostic anti-TB chemotherapy. The common intra-operative findings were miliary nodules (14 cases, 77.8%) and widespread adhesion (10 cases, 55.6%). Intra-operative frozen section was obtained in 10 cases, and the typical tuberculosis tubercles were detected in all cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  APTB should be considered in all cases with pelvic mass, ascites and high levels of CA125, although clinical features and laboratory results specifically indicate neither ovarian malignancy nor APTB. Diagnostic laparotomy is a direct and safe method. To avoid extended surgery, the cases with APTB can be diagnosed through intra-operative frozen section in conjunction with clinical features.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Biology Research Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Ave, 430030 Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shuang
authors.forename: Wang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dan
authors.forename: Hu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ting
authors.forename: Meng Yu
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Cao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ying
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quan
authors.forename: ChaoYang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: ZhiLan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Cao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ming
authors.forename: Jian Feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Wang Shi
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Xuan
authors.forename: Yun Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Ding
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005629:Frozen Sections; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007813:Laparotomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014395:Peritonitis, Tuberculous / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen