Female genital tuberculosis--a retrospective clinico-pathologic study of 501 cases

A retrospective clinico-pathological study of 501 cases of female genital tuberculosis (FGTB) observed from 1974 to 1991 was conducted. The frequency of FGTB was 1.8% in 1974 rising to 2.4% in 1982, thereafter showing a steady decline to 0.8% in 1989 and onwards. Two thirds of the patients were infertile and between 17 to 40 years of age, while 82.3% of all cases of FGTB were between 20-30 years of age. Involvement of the endometrium was noted in 99.5%, fallopian tubes in 94.7%, cervix in 81.5%, ovaries in 62.5% and vulva in 0.2% of cases. Extensive caseous lesions in the genital tract were a notable feature in elderly women 70 years of age. Staining for Acid Fast Bacilli was not found to be useful, however follow-up biopsies from endometrium and cervix in 45 cases on anti-tubercular therapy showed complete disappearance of the granulomas.