Peritoneal tuberculosis mimicking advanced ovarian carcinoma in elderly women:three case reports and literature review / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To document peritoneal tuberculosis mimicking ovarian malignancy in elderly post-menopausal women and to review pertinent literature.Methods The records of 3 women with peritoneal tuberculosis who were managed at Beijing Hospital from January 2003 to September 2009 were reviewed.Results Three patients with peritoneal tuberculosis mimicking ovarian malignancy all presented with the classical symptoms of advanced-stage ovarian carcinoma,including ascites,abdominopelvic masses,elevated serum CA125,bloating and progressive emaciation.Two patients received laparotomy revealing peritoneal tuberculosis but no malignancy.All the patients were treated with anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy.Conclusions Medical awareness of peritoneal tuberculosis is still lacking and many women with this disease are initially thought to have ovarian malignancy and undergo unnecessary extended surgery.Laparoscopy including biopsies seems to be a sufficient and safe method to provide diagnosis of peritoneal tuberculosis.If laparoscopy is not feasible,laparotomy should be performed.Ascites and high level of CA125 do not necessarily indicate that the clinical picture is malignant in post-menopausal women.