Tuberculous Lymphadenitis Mimicking Gastric Subepithelial Tumor Diagnosed Using Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided Fine-needle Aspiration

ABSTRACT

A gastric subepithelial tumor (SET) is commonly detected during a diagnostic endoscopic examination. Gastric tuberculosis (TB), in particular, can present as a SET of the gastric wall. A few cases of gastric TB mimicking a SET have recently been reported. Radiological imaging combined with endoscopic biopsy can aid in the early diagnosis of TB without surgical intervention. A 41-year-old man visited our health promotion center for a regular check-up. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) revealed a round and smooth, bulging mucosal lesion suggesting a gastric SET in the upper body of the stomach. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) demonstrated a hypoechoic lesion measuring 18 mm, with an obscure layer of origin, and EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration was performed. Microscopic examination of the sample showed chronic granulomatous inflammation. Histopathologically, the aspirated sample showed positive Ziehl-Neelsen staining, confirming a diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis. We describe a case of a patient who presented with tuberculous lymphadenitis mimicking a SET of the stomach. The lesion was found on EGD and confirmed using EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration.