Case Report
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World J Clin Cases. May 16, 2014; 2(5): 167-169
Published online May 16, 2014. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v2.i5.167
Pancreatic tuberculosis mimicking pancreatic carcinoma during anti-tuberculosis therapy: A case report
Yan-Jia Yang, Ya-Xin Li, Xiao-Qin Liu, Mei Yang, Kai Liu
Yan-Jia Yang, Ya-Xin Li, Xiao-Qin Liu, Mei Yang, Kai Liu, Center for Infectious Disease, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Author contributions: Yang YJ contributed to the study concept and design, collected and analyzed the data, and participated in drafting the manuscript; Li YX and Liu XQ contributed to data acquisition and assisted in drafting the manuscript; Yang M contributed to data acquisition and critically revised the article; Liu K conceived the study, participated in study design and coordination, and revised the manuscript critically; all authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Correspondence to: Kai Liu, MD, Center for Infectious Disease, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China. liubusiness@163.com
Telephone: +86-18-980601879 Fax: +86-28-85422650
Received: December 17, 2013
Revised: March 20, 2014
Accepted: April 16, 2014
Published online: May 16, 2014
Processing time: 149 Days and 14.7 Hours
Abstract

Pancreatic tuberculosis (TB) is a rare condition, even in immunocompetent hosts. A case is presented of pancreatic TB that mimicked pancreatic head carcinoma in a 40-year-old immunocompetent male patient. The patient was admitted to our hospital after suffering for nine days from epigastralgia and obstructive jaundice. Computed tomography revealed a pancreatic mass that mimicked a pancreatic head carcinoma. The patient had undergone an operation four months prior for thoracic TB and was undergoing anti-TB therapy. A previous abdominal ultrasound was unremarkable with the exception of gallbladder steroid deposits. The patient underwent surgery due to the progressive discomfort of the upper abdomen and a mass that resembled a pancreatic malignancy. A biopsy of the pancreas and lymph nodes was performed, revealing TB infection. The patient received a cholecystostomy tube and recovered after being administered standard anti-TB therapy for 15 mo. This case is reported to emphasize the rare contribution of pancreatic TB to pancreatic masses and obstructive jaundice.

Keywords: Anti-tuberculosis therapy; Pancreatic head carcinoma; Pancreatic tuberculosis; Pancreatic mass; Tube cholecystostomy

Core tip: Pancreatic tuberculosis (TB) is rare in immunocompetent or immunosuppressed hosts. We report a case of a 40-year-old immunocompetent host with pancreatic TB that mimicked pancreatic head carcinoma with obstructive jaundice. The patient had previously been operated on for thoracic TB and was receiving anti-TB therapy. We report this case to emphasize rare causes of pancreatic masses and obstructive jaundice, and to discuss alternate treatments for pancreatic TB.