An important diagnosis of ascites and abdominal mass coexistence in a child: Peritoneal tuberculosis
Bilge Türedi Sezer1
, Fatih Çelik1, Yusuf Çalışkan2, Turgut Türkel2, Mehmet Emin Balkan1, Nizamettin Kılıç1
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Uludağ University Faculty of Medicine, Bursa, Türkiye
2Department of Pediatric Surgery, Bursa Doruk Hospital, Bursa, Türkiye
Keywords: Abdominal mass, assit, children, miliary tuberculosis.
Abstract
Tuberculosis is still a life-threatening disease worldwide, particularly in developing countries. Miliary tuberculosis is an important diagnosis in children which needs urgent treatment. A 15-year-old male patient was investigated for an abdominal mass with the symptoms of chronic abdominal pain, weight loss, and ascites. On ultrasonography, a 4.5x4x4 cm sized mass that could not be differentiated whether cystic or solid was defined at left paraumbilical region. During laparotomy, widespread punctate granulomas were seen on the intestinal surfaces, peritoneum, and thickened omentum. Tissue biopsies were taken with preliminary diagnosis of possible tuberculosis. The pathological examination was compatible with granulomatous inflammation involving caseous necrosis. In conclusion, miliary tuberculosis with abdominal involvement is a rare type of the disease and can also be seen in pediatric patients without lung tuberculosis. Percutaneous sampling of ascites fluid may not be enough for the diagnosis. Tissue sampling is the most appropriate method for diagnosis and timely treatment for abdominal tuberculosis in children.
Citation: Sezer BT, Çelik F, Çalışkan Y, Türkel T, Balkan ME, Kılıç N. An important diagnosis of ascites and abdominal mass coexistence in a child: Peritoneal tuberculosis. Turkish J Ped Surg 2023;37(3):115-118. doi: 10.62114/JTAPS.2023.63702.
A written informed consent was obtained from the parent of the patient.
Data Sharing Statement:
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Study idea/concept: B.T.S., N.K.; Design and writing the article, references: B.T.S., F.Ç.; Data collection and/or processing/materials: Y.Ç., T.T.; Literature review: F.Ç., Y.Ç., T.T.; Critical review: M.E.B., N.K.; Control/ supervision: N.K.
The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.
The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.