Usefulness of ultrasound in the diagnosis of peritoneal tuberculosis

  • Sebastiana Atzori University of Sassari, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria, Sassari, Italy
  • Gianpaolo Vidili University of Sassari, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria, Sassari, Italy
  • Giuseppe Delitala University of Sassari, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria, Sassari, Italy
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.2654
Keywords: abdominal tuberculosis, peritoneal tuberculosis, ultrasound in infectious diseases

Abstract

The peritoneum is one of the most common extrapulmonary sites of tuberculous infection. We report a case of peritoneal tuberculosis (TB) in a 25-year-old man. In this case, ultrasound of the abdomen played an important role in the diagnostic process. The diagnosis of this disease, however, remains a challenge because of its insidious nature, the variability of its presentation, and the limitations of available diagnostic tests. A high index of suspicion should be considered, particularly in high-risk patients with unexplained ascites. In our case ultrasound guided the diagnosis by rapidly identifying abnormal signs, which in high-prevalence settings are extremely suggestive of peritoneal tuberculosis.

Author Biographies

Sebastiana Atzori, University of Sassari, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria, Sassari, Italy
M.D. Resident in Internal Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Sassari
Gianpaolo Vidili, University of Sassari, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria, Sassari, Italy
M.D.PhD, Assistant Professor in internal Medicine,Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Sassari
Giuseppe Delitala, University of Sassari, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria, Sassari, Italy
Professor of Internal Medicine, Chief of the Department of Clnical and Experimental Medicine, University of Sassari
Published
2012-12-15
How to Cite
1.
Atzori S, Vidili G, Delitala G (2012) Usefulness of ultrasound in the diagnosis of peritoneal tuberculosis. J Infect Dev Ctries 6:886-890. doi: 10.3855/jidc.2654
Issue
Vol 6 No 12: December 2012
Section
Case Reports

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

  1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
  2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
  3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).