A Case Series of Tuberculous Pericarditis: Clinical Profiles and Diagnostic Challenges

Tuberculous pericarditis (TBP) is an uncommon but serious manifestation of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, accounting for approximately 1-2% of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB) cases. Its diagnosis remains challenging because of the paucibacillary nature of the infection and the limited sensitivity of conventional diagnostic methods. Patients suspected of having tuberculous pericarditis between 2022 and 2024 were analyzed in this prospective case series. Various diagnostic tests were performed in suspected cases of tuberculous pericarditis, and the Cartridge-Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (CBNAAT) detected Mycobacterium tuberculosis in three samples. Clinical data, radiological findings, pericardial fluid characteristics, and microbiological test results were reviewed and analyzed for the patients with tuberculous pericarditis. Our study suggests that men in the middle to older age groups may be at higher risk. The most common clinical findings were fever, dyspnoea, and pericardial effusion. This study highlights the heterogeneous clinical and laboratory profile of TBP, which can occur in diverse patient populations, ranging from immunocompromised individuals to otherwise healthy adults.