ABSTRACT
The explanation of isolated-organ tuberculosis rests on the assumption that in the course of the lymphatic or hematogenous dissemination of bacilli, organisms may be rapidly destroyed in all other sites save for the particular tissue involved in the isolated tuberculous process. Tuberculosis can arise in all tissues having lymphatics or blood supply, but the disease causing biliary tract obstruction has been known to be rare. Recently, we experi-enced a case of isolated-organ tuberculosis causing common bile duct obstruction and periductal lymph node enlargement in a 46-year-old Korean male. An ultrasonography-guided percutaneous needle biopsy revealed a granulomatous inflammation of the lymph node. After 7 months of anti-tuberculous medication, the common bile duct obstruction and periductal lymph node enlargement disappeared completely in a follow up abdominal CT and ERCP.