[Adrenal tuberculosis. Diagnosis using polymerase chain reaction]

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Infectious Diseases
• Medical Diagnostics

Background:

• Adrenocortical insufficiency, commonly known as Addison's disease, presents a diagnostic challenge.
• Adrenal cortex tuberculosis is an uncommon but significant cause of Addison's disease.

Observation:

• A case study of a patient with Addison's disease who previously had pulmonary tuberculosis.
• Computed tomography (CT) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were employed for diagnosis.

Findings:

• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) demonstrated utility in diagnosing adrenal tuberculosis.
• Mycobacterium tuberculosis may not be detectable through traditional bacteriologic methods, highlighting PCR's value.

Implications:

• Adrenocortical tuberculosis should be considered in patients with Addison's disease, particularly those with a history of tuberculosis.
• PCR offers a valuable tool for etiological diagnosis of adrenocortical insufficiency when Mycobacterium tuberculosis is suspected but not bacteriologically confirmed.