Systemic spread of tuberculosis after surgery for a splenic tuberculous abscess without postoperational antituberculosis treatment: a case report

Abstract

Solitary splenic tuberculosis (TB) is rare, with less than ten cases ever being reported. The diagnosis is established by the pathological analysis of a biopsy from a surgical operation or from a fine-needle aspiration sample. Manifestations of splenic TB include low-grade fever, weight loss, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. This case, however, has no obvious symptoms, and multiple splenic tubercles were discovered during a routine physical examination. Splenic abscesses from TB were diagnosed after the operation. Postoperative spread of TB lead to cerebral tuberculous abscesses and pulmonary TB. Resolution was achieved with anti-TB therapy.

Keywords:

• solitary splenic tuberculosis
• cerebral abscesses
• lung tuberculosis
• diagnosis
• postoperative
• antituberculosis treatment

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grants from the National Grand Program on Key Infectious Diseases (2012ZX10002-004).

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.