Primary gastric tuberculosis mimicking gastric cancer: a case report

J Infect Dev Ctries. 2013 Apr 17;7(4):355-7. doi: 10.3855/jidc.2598.

Abstract

Gastric tuberculosis is an uncommon manifestation of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis infection. The clinical signs of this type of infection are nonspecific and misleading. Clinically gastric tuberculosis resembles peptic ulcer disease or malignancy. We report a case of gastric tuberculosis, which was treated as acid peptic disease, in an Iranian immunocompetent adult with no pulmonary tuberculosis, who received surgery for gastric cancer. Diagnosis was based on PCR despite the detection of negative acid-fast bacilli in the histopathologic specimen. We recommend PCR for Mycobacterium tuberculosis to be done when granuloma or caseation is detected on biopsy in patients who are suspected of having gastric malignancy or acid peptic diseases.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use
  • Diagnostic Errors*
  • Gastrectomy
  • Gastric Mucosa / microbiology
  • Gastric Mucosa / pathology
  • Granuloma / microbiology
  • Granuloma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / genetics
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / isolation & purification*
  • Rifampin / therapeutic use
  • Stomach Neoplasms / surgery
  • Tuberculosis / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis / drug therapy
  • Tuberculosis / pathology

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents
  • Rifampin