Tubercular granuloma mimicking pyogenic liver abscess

• Published in: Journal of family medicine and primary care Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 424 - 427
• Main Authors: Garg, Mohit, Khan, Yasmeen, Pathania, Monika
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01-01-2020; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Wolters Kluwer - Medknow; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Antitubercular agents; Care and treatment; Case Report; Fever; Granuloma; hepatic abscess; hepatic granuloma; hepatic tuberculosis; Liver; Liver diseases; Metronidazole; Public health; Public health movements; Tuberculosis; India; Hepatic abscess; hepatic tuberculosis; hepatic granuloma
• ISSN: 2249-4863; 2278-7135
• DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_630_19

Hepatic Tuberculosis (TB) is extremely rare without miliary involvement in immunocompetent patients. Even in countries like India where TB is a major public health problem only few cases have been diagnosed and treated. We report a case of an immunocompetent patient who presented with undiagnosed pyrexia of 11 days, was initially diagnosed as pyogenic liver abscess, he did not responded to treatment and on liver biopsy was diagnosed as hepatic tuberculoma. Antitubercular treatment (ATT) was started and the patient responded well. We concluded that though hepatic TB is rare in immunocompetent patient, it is important to keep it as a differential diagnosis in patients of liver abscesses who are not responding to treatment in order to avoid needless investigations.