Hepatobiliary and pancreatic tuberculosis: a two decade experience

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Infectious Diseases
• Abdominal Imaging

Background:

• Isolated hepatobiliary or pancreatic tuberculosis (TB) presents diagnostic challenges.
• Preoperative diagnosis is difficult, often leading to misdiagnosis as malignancy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the clinical experience with hepatobiliary and pancreatic TB over two decades.
• To identify key features aiding in the diagnosis and management of this rare condition.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 18 patients with histologically confirmed hepatobiliary and pancreatic TB.
• Analysis of demographic data, clinical presentation, imaging findings, and treatment outcomes.

Main Results:

• 11 patients had hepatobiliary TB, 7 had pancreatic TB; most were under 40.
• Abdominal pain, jaundice, fever, anorexia, and weight loss were common symptoms.
• Preoperative diagnosis was achieved in only 4 patients; 14 were diagnosed post-surgery.

Conclusions:

• Tuberculosis should be a differential diagnosis for hepatobiliary and pancreatic masses, especially in endemic regions.
• Attempting preoperative tissue or cytological diagnosis is vital before assuming malignancy.
• Early consideration can improve management of rare abdominal TB cases.