Peritoneal tuberculosis: A case report on a rare cause of tumor marker elevation

Concurrent peritoneal and pleural tuberculosis in an adult: A case report and literature review

Background

The simultaneous involvement of the pleura and peritoneum with tuberculosis in the absence of pulmonary foci is an uncommon condition that may lead physicians to misdiagnose.

Case Presentation

Herein, we present a Persian male adult who manifested with epigastric pain, weakness, and a history of pleuritic chest pain two months prior to admission. The findings of the physical examination included vital signs within the normal range, unilateral fine crackle in the lung, abdominal distension with positive shifting dullness, and fluid wave test. Analysis of the ascitic fluid revealed a Serum-ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) of less than 1.1g/dl, indicating a non-portal condition. The results of the acid-fast bacilli (AFB) staining as well as the TB polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test were negative. However, the adenosine deaminase (ADA) level was 44 IU/L. A chest CT scan revealed mediastinal lymph node enlargement and pleural thickening with loculated pleural effusion. Three acid-fast bacilli smear of morning sputum were sent, and all three were negative. An abdominopelvic CT scan showed multiple periaortic and mesenteric lymph nodes of varying sizes with mesenteric haziness and accumulation of effusion in the peritoneal cavity. Eventually, peritoneal biopsy, the gold standard, was performed, which revealed multiple granulomatous lesions and areas of caseous necrosis surrounded by Langerhans giant cells and epithelioid cells.

Conclusion

It is worth noting that in cases of ascites and pleural thickening, especially in patients with poor socioeconomic status, simultaneous pleural and peritoneal TB should be considered, especially in third-world countries.

Peritoneal and Pulmonary Tuberculosis in a Postpartum Female with Elevated Cancer Antigen 125 and Ascites

BACKGROUND

Peritoneal tuberculosis is a rare form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis and presents a challenging diagnosis because of its nonspecific clinical manifestations. Peritoneal TB mimics other pathologies, including abdominal carcinomatosis, especially when the patient presents with ascites and an elevated cancer antigen (CA)-125 levels. Case Presentation. A postpartum 20-year-old Hispanic female recently discharged after transverse cesarean surgery, presented to the ER with fever, chills, edema, abdominal distension, nausea, and vomiting. The patient was febrile, tachycardic, and hypotensive. Chest X-ray demonstrated alveolar and interstitial consolidations; chest CT revealed tree-in-bud opacities in the right lower lobe, suggestive of atypical (TB)/fungal infection. CT of the abdomen and pelvis demonstrated ascites, omental thickening, peritoneal thickening, and mesenteric adenopathy, suggestive of carcinomatosis. She was admitted with a presumed diagnosis of sepsis secondary to pneumonia and started empirically on broad-spectrum antibiotics without clinical improvement. A battery of oncology markers was ordered and revealed a mildly elevated cancer antigen (CA)-125. Diagnostic paracentesis showed lymphocytic predominance with positive mycobacteria PCR, elevated adenosine deaminase (ADA), and no malignant cells. Subsequently, the sputum acid-fast bacilli (AFB) stain returned positive for tuberculosis, confirming the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. A peritoneal biopsy was obtained and demonstrated caseating granulomas consistent with peritoneal tuberculosis. The patient was started on standard antituberculosis therapy with clinical improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

This case highlights the need for a high-level of suspicion for peritoneal tuberculosis in a patient with pulmonary tuberculosis who presents with intra-abdominal ascites, omental thickening, peritoneal thickening, and mesenteric lymphadenopathy, despite the presence of an elevated CA-125 level.