Fine needle aspiration diagnosis of isolated pancreatic tuberculosis: A case report

Core Tip

Core tip: Isolated pancreatic tuberculosis is rare, even in countries with a high incidence of tuberculosis. Pancreatic tuberculosis (TB) is more frequently associated with miliary TB or widely disseminated disease. Pancreatic tuberculosis most commonly presents as a solitary lesion with multiple cystic components. The most important differential diagnosis includes pancreatic malignancy. Majority of the cases are diagnosed after surgical exploration for presumed pancreatic malignancy and pre-operative diagnosis is quite difficult. In the present study, we describe a rare case of isolated pancreatic TB in a 24-year-old man, presented with pancreatic mass lesion in an immunocompetent host. Diagnosis was made by contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) and fine needle aspiration of the pancreatic mass revealed acid-fast bacilli. The case was treated successfully with antituberculous drugs. Pancreatic tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a pancreatic mass when the patient is young, residing in the endemic zone of tuberculosis.