Peritoneal Tuberculosis as a Final Result of Diagnostic Conundrum: A Case Report

Abstract

Peritoneal tuberculosis is a disease which can mimic malignancy especially in women present with ascites and
elevated CA125 levels. It always should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Peritoneal tuberculosis
with ambiguous patient symptoms and diagnostic difficulties still poses a great challenge in clinical practice.
A 33 years old woman was admitted to hospital with complaints of abdominal pain and shortness of breath.
Initially, elevated serum antigen CA-125, ascites, pleural effusion, and multiple suspicious nodules in the
lungs and abdominal cavity on CT were found, thus, diagnosing advance stage ovarian cancer. Biopsy
laparotomy was performed, and post-operative histological examination was peritoneal tuberculosis. The
patient was treated with first-line antituberculosis agents and discharged home. Almost in all other cases,
peritoneal tuberculosis is diagnosed only after surgical intervention.