Genital and peritoneal tuberculosis: potential role of laparoscopy in diagnosis and management

Genital and peritoneal tuberculosis are rare in developed countries and can mimic ovarian cancer. We report two different cases that came to our attention, both in a month. The first patient was referred to us for an asymptomatic pelvic mass. The second patient came to us because of weight loss, abdominal swelling, and ascites. Unfortunately, the imaging findings were misleading, and the laboratory analyses were not helpful. Only the laparoscopic approach was useful for final diagnosis. We conclude that the symptoms of abdominal tuberculosis vary greatly, and laparoscopy can be essential for its diagnosis and management.