Tuberculose pancreática / Pancreatic tuberculosis

ABSTRACT

Tuberculosis is an extremely common chronic disease in developing countries, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The principal target organ is the lung, causing focal necrosis and destruction. In about 12 percent of cases, extrapulmonary dissemination involving the gastrointestinal system occurs. The pancreas is involved in about 0,25 percent of all cases of disseminated tuberculosis, but its isolated involvement is a medical curiosity. In the last years, with the advent of AIDS, extrapulmonary dissemination and atypical abdominal presentation has increased. We report a case of pancreatic tuberculosis in a 66-year-old patient, with no previous history of pulmonary tuberculosis or immunocompromised state in whom the diagnosis was made by CT-guided skin needle biopsy. After clinical treatment with current antibiotic therapy, the patient recovered well.