Diagnostic and Management Guidelines of Thyroid Tuberculosis: Our Experience and Systematic Review.

Objective: Thyroid tuberculosis has non-specific clinical presentation, difficult diagnosis and specific medical management. The aim of this article is to present and share a review of the English-language literature on thyroid tuberculosis in order to gain a better understanding of diagnostic methods and provide guidelines for its management and to present our experience of three cases. Methods: The systematic search of the literature was performed on Pubmed and Medline from 1950 to 2019 according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement. Results: We retrieved 13 manuscripts meeting our criteria from the search. There were 7 case series, and 6 manuscripts with review of the literature. Conclusion: Direct histopathological demonstration is the best diagnostic modality. FNAC is the study of choice and PCR assay increases its sensitivity. The standard short course ATT for 6 months is recommended for isolated thyroid TB and for widespread disease, 12 months therapy is recommended. Surgery is reserved for failure of medical therapy and abscess formation.

A Retrospective Cohort Study of Gastrosplenic Fistula Secondary to Malignant Etiology: Single-Centre Experience of 5 Cases.

Gastrosplenic fistula is an uncommon manifestation of malignancy of the stomach and spleen. The aim of this study is to present our 10-year experience on gastrosplenic fistula secondary to malignant etiology. Endoscopy, imaging, and histopathology records of all the patients with gastric and splenic malignant pathologies were reviewed retrospectively. The protocol was approved by the ethical review board of the institute. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. A total of 5 cases were found to have gastrosplenic fistula. Of these 5 cases, 2 were due to large B cell lymphoma of the spleen, 1 was secondary to Hodgkin's lymphoma of the stomach, 1 case was due to diffuse large B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the stomach, and 1 patient was secondary to gastric adenocarcinoma. Gastrosplenic fistula is an exceptionally rare complication of gastrointestinal malignancy. Lymphoma of the spleen is the commonest cause while gastric adenocarcinoma causing gastrosplenic fistula is extremely rare. Most cases occur spontaneously.

A Retrospective Cohort Study of Coexistence of Carcinoma and Tuberculosis of Colon: 12-Year Experience.

Coexistence of carcinoma colon and tuberculosis is rare. The aim of this study is to present our 12-year experience on colonic carcinoma with coexisting colonic TB. Histopathology and imaging records of 189 patients of colonic carcinoma patients who underwent treatment in surgical unit 6 in our institute between January 2006 and December 2017 were reviewed. In 7 patients, histopathology and/or imaging studies were suggestive of coexistence of colonic carcinoma and tuberculosis. Fifteen cases of colonic tuberculosis were also reviewed. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. Colonoscopic biopsy was suggestive of only malignant lesion in 6 cases and coexistence of TB and carcinoma in 1 case. The duration of symptoms spanned between 2 and 7 weeks. Anorexia and weight loss were the predominant symptoms. Colonoscopic biopsy was suggestive of only malignant lesion in 6 cases and coexistence of TB and carcinoma in 1 case. The morbidity was low and there was no surgery associated mortality. Clinical awareness and advancement in diagnostic studies and improvement in management strategies may guide and lead to early diagnosis, optimum therapeutic guidelines and thus improved outcome.

Gastric tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis of the stomach is an extremely rare manifestation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and mimics gastric carcinoma in its presentation. Most of our knowledge about this rare disease comes from case reports and there are only a few case series published on this disease and thus the majority of the part remains uncovered. Diagnosis is made commonly only after a major surgery. Endoscopy and guided biopsy are the diagnostic modality of choice. Surgery is indicated in cases which present with complications. Patients respond well to antituberculous therapy. The authors encountered 4 cases of gastric tuberculosis over 5 years. This study summarises the available literature and gives comprehensive update on this rare disease.

Pancreatic Tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis of the pancreas is extremely rare and in most of the cases mimics pancreatic carcinoma. There are a number of case reports on pancreatic tuberculosis with various different presentations, but only a few case series have been published, and most of our knowledge about this disease comes from individual case reports. Patients of pancreatic tuberculosis may remain asymptomatic initially and manifest as an abscess or a mass involving local lymph nodes and usually present with non-specific features. Pancreatic tuberculosis may present with a wide range of imaging findings. It is difficult to diagnose tuberculosis of pancreas on imaging studies as they may present with masses, cystic lesions or abscesses and mass lesions in most of the cases mimic pancreatic carcinoma. As it is a rare entity, it cannot be recommended but suggested that pancreatic tuberculosis should be considered in cases with a large space occupying lesions associated with necrotic peripancreatic lymph nodes and constitutional symptoms. Ultrasonography/computed tomography/endosonography-guided biopsy is the recommended diagnostic technique. Most patients achieve complete cure with standard antituberculous therapy. The aims of this study are to review clinical presentation, diagnostic studies, and management of pancreatic tuberculosis and to present our experience of 5 cases of pancreatic tuberculosis.