- (2009) Volume 10, Issue 3
Enver Ilhan
Department of General Surgery, Izmir Bozyaka Training and Researching Hospital. Izmir, Turkey
Received April 1st, 2009 - Accepted April 2nd, 2009
Biopsy; Cytology; Pancreas; Tuberculosis
Dear Sir,
Peripancreatic tuberculosis is rarely seen. It is more widespread in countries with high endemicity for tuberculosis than in developed countries and the immunocompromized population. It may mimic a carcinoma of the pancreas, acute pancreatitis or chronic pancreatitis, or present with biliary obstruction [1, 2].
Diagnosing pancreatic tuberculosis is often difficult. Histopathological or microbiological evaluation can confirm the etiology. Ultrasound, CT scan and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), guided aspiration and definitive tissue diagnosis are feasible techniques. Image-guided FNA biopsy of the pancreas, a safe procedure, has an overall sensitivity of 64-98%, a specificity of 80-100% and a positive predictive value of 98.4-100%. When fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were combined, the sensitivity and specificity increased to 84% and 100%, respectively. EUS is today considered to be the most suitable investigative tool for differentiating a benign from a malignant pancreatic lesion. EUS provides an accurate and safe diagnosis without the risk, cost and time delay involved in an open biopsy or laparotomy. When not available, expensive investigations such as CECT and MRI with guided biopsy have to be resorted to. Exploratory laparotomy may be required in technically difficult cases due to the risk of injury to vessels in the vicinity of the mass [3, 4].
In the article published by Tewari et al. in the March 2009 issue of Journal of the Pancreas (JOP) [5], a 70- year-old woman presented to the hospital with complaints of abdominal pain and vomiting, and mild jaundice. Ultrasound, computed tomography and ERCP revealed intrahepatic biliary radical dilatation and a dilated common bile duct and with no lymph nodal involvement. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a slightly deformed ampulla, with a suspected growth, but its biopsy was unremarkable. In the presence of these findings, wide local excision of the ampullary growth under general anesthesia was proposed, but a Whipple pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed instead because the patient was in poor condition with a compromised nutritional state
The article successfully concluded that local excision of the lesion of the ampulla in their patient was satisfactory and it was recommended as a general therapeutic approach for the elderly with poor performance status. Nevertheless, it is known that peripancreatic tuberculosis is a benign disease and can be treated medically. At the present day, even conditions which require serious surgical intervention can be treated with minimal invasive surgical procedures. In such patients, particularly in endemic areas, the need for repeated aspiration and definitive biopsies, accompanied by ERCP, ultrasonography, CT and EUS should be pointed out. Emphasis on the need for preoperative FNAC and tissue biopsy will help avoid unnecessary surgical intervention for many patients and the morbidity and mortality of serious operations, such as wide local excision of the ampulla of Vater or pancreaticoduodenectomy. It will also play a significant role in patient survival.
In conclusion, isolated pancreatic tuberculosis is a rare entity and can be clinically elusive. An experienced eye is required to diagnose peripancreatic tuberculosis based on clinical and laboratory features. Fine needle aspiration cytology and definitive biopsy are the primary techniques used for reaching a definitive diagnosis and avoiding surgerical complications in people living in an endemic area who present with pancreatic mass lesions and an obstructed biliary system. The possibility of tuberculosis should be considered in making a differential diagnosis when a tumoral mass is located in the peripancreatic region.
The authors have no potential conflicts of interest
