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World J Gastrointest Surg. Mar 27, 2026; 18(3): 115137
Published online Mar 27, 2026. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v18.i3.115137
Published online Mar 27, 2026. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v18.i3.115137
Splenic tuberculous mass following anti-tuberculosis therapy was misdiagnosed as a splenic tumor: A case report
Zhuo-Kai Li, Kun Zhang, Heng-Li Zhang, Xin-Liang Lv, Jing-Qiang Guo, Wei Tan, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Lishui Municipal Central Hospital, Lishui 323000, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: Li ZK participated in the formulation of clinical diagnosis and treatment plan, collected the clinical data, and wrote the manuscript; Zhang K edited and critically revised the manuscript; Zhang HL contributed to the manuscript drafting; Lv XL and Tan W supervised the diagnosis and treatment of this patient; Guo JQ collected the clinical data and performed the follow-up; and all authors thoroughly reviewed and endorsed the final manuscript.
Informed consent statement: Informed written consent was obtained from the patients for the publication of this report and any accompanying images.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts 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: Kun Zhang, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Lishui Municipal Central Hospital, No. 289 Kuocang Road, Lishui 323000, Zhejiang Province, China. zhangkun836@163.com
Received: October 16, 2025
Revised: November 14, 2025
Accepted: January 12, 2026
Published online: March 27, 2026
Processing time: 163 Days and 21.8 Hours
Revised: November 14, 2025
Accepted: January 12, 2026
Published online: March 27, 2026
Processing time: 163 Days and 21.8 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Although rare, splenic tuberculosis should be considered for patients with risk factors for tuberculosis or a relevant history. A high index of suspicion should be maintained for splenic masses with an unclear diagnosis to avoid missed diagnosis of splenic tuberculosis. When necessary, percutaneous needle biopsy may be performed to confirm the diagnosis, thereby avoiding unnecessary surgical intervention. Alternatively, after thorough evaluation, partial splenectomy may be considered to preserve spleen function.