Qi DY, Zhao YC, Chen LP. Isolated hepatic tuberculoma: A case report and review of the literature. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; 18(3): 115812 [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i3.115812]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Li-Ping Chen, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 13 Hangkong Road, Qiaokou District, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China. lpchen@hust.edu.cn
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Article-Type of This Article
Case Report
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Mar 15, 2026 (publication date) through Mar 12, 2026
Times Cited of This Article
Times Cited (0)
Journal Information of This Article
Publication Name
World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology
ISSN
1948-5204
Publisher of This Article
Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
Share the Article
Qi DY, Zhao YC, Chen LP. Isolated hepatic tuberculoma: A case report and review of the literature. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; 18(3): 115812 [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i3.115812]
World J Gastrointest Oncol. Mar 15, 2026; 18(3): 115812 Published online Mar 15, 2026. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i3.115812
Isolated hepatic tuberculoma: A case report and review of the literature
Dan-Yu Qi, Yu-Chong Zhao, Li-Ping Chen
Dan-Yu Qi, Yu-Chong Zhao, Li-Ping Chen, Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
Author contributions: Qi DY was responsible for conceptualization, data curation, and writing of the original draft; Zhao YC contributed to methodology, investigation, and supervision; Chen LP handled formal analysis, visualization, and review & editing of the manuscript; all authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Informed consent statement: Informed written consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this report and any accompanying images.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no conflict of interest for this article.
CARE Checklist (2016) statement: The authors have read the CARE Checklist (2016), and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CARE Checklist (2016).
Corresponding author: Li-Ping Chen, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 13 Hangkong Road, Qiaokou District, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China. lpchen@hust.edu.cn
Received: October 27, 2025 Revised: November 25, 2025 Accepted: December 19, 2025 Published online: March 15, 2026 Processing time: 137 Days and 8.5 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Hepatic tuberculosis (TB) is an uncommon form of extrapulmonary TB resulting from Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection of the liver. Its incidence is higher among immunocompromised individuals, including those with human immunodeficiency virus infection. However, its occurrence is rarely observed in immunocompetent individuals and remains less broadly documented. The nonspecific clinical manifestations of hepatic TB frequently complicate diagnosis, resulting in frequent misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment.
CASE SUMMARY
This case report presents a 29-year-old immunocompetent man with epigastric pain. No evidence of pulmonary or gastrointestinal TB was found, and systemic symptoms such as fever or fatigue were absent. Hepatic TB was confirmed through histopathological examination and molecular testing using endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (EUS-FNA). Symptoms resolved completely following an antitubercular therapy, with follow-up evaluation confirming clinical cure.
CONCLUSION
In liver space occupying lesions, the possibility of TB should be considered. When other methods fail to identify the cause, obtaining liver tissue through EUS-FNA enables definitive diagnosis.
Core Tip: This case report describes a young immunocompetent man with primary hepatic tuberculosis, presenting as an isolated caudate lobe lesion without extrahepatic involvement. Clinical manifestation was atypical, characterized solely by abdominal pain. Radiological findings mimicked a malignant tumor. The final diagnosis was confirmed through endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (EUS-FNA) and polymerase chain reaction. Both blood and liver tissue tuberculosis spot tests were negative, so it should not be solely relied upon for diagnosis. This case highlights the crucial role of EUS-FNA in obtaining diagnosis and successful treatment, emphasizing its value when imaging can not provide a clear diagnosis.
