Peritoneal tuberculosis in an immunocompetent patient: A case report

Tuberculosis is endemic in Colombia, the prevalence of its pulmonary form in immunocompetent hosts is high, and peritoneal compromise instead is rare and difficult to diagnose.

A 24-year-old female patient living in a rural area presented to the emergency department with constitutional and gastrointestinal symptoms, including bloating, diarrhea, significant weight loss, nocturnal diaphoresis, and gradual onset of ascites with abdominal pain. Diagnostic workup, including paracentesis, a transvaginal ultrasound, and an abdominal CT scan, did not suggest malignancy or portal hypertension. However, diagnostic laparoscopy revealed a miliary pattern comprising the parietal and pelvic peritoneum, uterus, fallopian tubes, and major omentum suggestive of peritoneal tuberculosis. Anti-tuberculosis therapy was initiated with subsequent microbiological confirmation.

Abdominal compromise by tuberculosis is a diagnostic challenge, especially in patients with no apparent risk factors. The clinical manifestations and paraclinical data may be unspecific or inconclusive, requiring peritoneal biopsy and empirical treatment before definitive confirmation.