Doctors and researchers in the Jiangsu Province in China note 28 cases of Abdominopelvic Tuberculosis (TB) commonly misdiagnosed as advanced ovarian cancer (AOC) or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). While it can be difficult to differentiate abdominopelvic TB from AOC or PID, according to researchers, with physical exams, lab testing and imaging, abdominopelvic TB can be distinguished and treated medicinally without invasive surgery.
Twenty-eight patients with abdominopelvic TB were included in the study. All patients tested high CA125 levels. Other common symptoms included pelvic mass, ascites, fever, night sweats, weight loss and pleural effusion. Caseating granulomatous lesions were found in 25 patients using histopathology.
Conclusion: All patients were treated for abdominopelvic TB. All but two patients survived treatment. The two patients who did not survive treatment had a medical history of using immune system inhibitors. It is extremely important to rule out abdominopelvic TB before continuing with advanced surgical treatment for AOC or PID as medicinal treatment may improve prognosis.
Source: Liu Q, Zhang Q, Guan Q, Xu JF, Shi QL. Abdominopelvic tuberculosis mimicking advanced ovarian cancer and pelvic inflammatory disease: a series of 28 female cases. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2013 Oct 8.
