[Abdominal tuberculous abscesses in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: description of 5 cases]

Five cases of tuberculous abdominal abscesses in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are reported. They were localized in pelvic retroperitoneum (2 cases), peripancreatic area, abdominal rectus anterior muscle, and were multiple in the remaining patient. All patients had presented with sustained fever and dull pain in the abscess area. In four patients this was the disease that led to the diagnosis of AIDS. The cultures from several sources (sputum, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, lymphadenopathy) revealed that the tuberculous abscess was a part of disseminated tuberculosis. Two patients were treated with surgical drainage and the other three with percutaneous drainage under echographic control. Two patients died from disseminated tuberculosis. It is pointed out that this form of tuberculosis in AIDS patients may be more common than previously reported.