Uncommon Location for a Common Disease, Simulating Cervical Cancer: A Rare Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Genital tuberculosis (GTB) is a common form of extra-pulmonary TB with cervical TB being a rare entity accounting for 0.1-0.65% of all TB cases globally. It is usually asymptomatic but may present with infertility, menstrual irregularities, dyspareunia, dysmenorrhoea, or vaginal discharge. CASE PRESENTATION: The present case report briefs about a 39 years old nulliparous infertile woman who presented with complaints of irregular menstrual cycles and amenorrhea with an erosive papillary growth over the cervix simulating invasive cervical carcinoma. Her Pap smear report revealed the presence of granulomas. On cervical punch biopsy also a large number of granulomas were seen and on Ziehl Nielsen staining the diagnosis of TB was further confirmed by the presence of acid-fast rodlike bacilli. The patient responded well to anti-tubercular drugs. DISCUSSION: GTB in most of the cases remains asymptomatic with infertility being the most common presenting complaint. Other symptoms include menstrual irregularities, amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and occasionally abnormal vaginal discharge. Tuberculous cervicitis is difficult to diagnose clinically and many times mimics cervical malignancy. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: Hence, cervical tuberculosis should be kept in the differential diagnosis of cervical cancer especially in an infertile woman from a developing country.

Laparoscopic evaluation of female genital tuberculosis in infertility: An observational study.

Background & objectives: Female genital tuberculosis (FGTB) is an important variety of extrapulmonary TB causing significant morbidity, especially infertility, in developing countries like India. The aim of this study was to evaluate the laparoscopic findings of the FGTB. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study on 374 cases of diagnostic laparoscopy performed on FGTB cases with infertility. All patients underwent history taking and clinical examination and endometrial sampling/biopsy for acid-fast bacilli, microscopy, culture, PCR, GeneXpert (only last 167 cases) and histopathological evidence of epithelioid granuloma. Diagnostic laparoscopy was performed in all the cases to evaluate the findings of FGTB. Results: Mean age, parity, body mass index and duration of infertility were 27.5 yr, 0.29, 22.6 kg/m2 and 3.78 years, respectively. Primary infertility was found in 81 per cent and secondary infertility in 18.18 per cent of cases. Endometrial biopsy was positive for AFB microscopy in 4.8 per cent, culture in 6.4 per cent and epithelioid granuloma in 15.5 per cent. Positive peritoneal biopsy granuloma was seen in 5.88 per cent, PCR in 314 (83.95%) and GeneXpert in 31 (18.56%, out of last 167 cases) cases. Definite findings of FGTB were seen in 164 (43.86%) cases with beaded tubes (12.29%), tubercles (32.88%) and caseous nodules (14.96%). Probable findings of FGTB were seen in 210 (56.14%) cases with pelvic adhesions (23.52%), perihepatic adhesions (47.86%), shaggy areas (11.7%), pelvic adhesions (11.71%), encysted ascites (10.42%) and frozen pelvis in 3.7 per cent of cases. Interpretation & conclusions: The finding of this study suggests that laparoscopy is a useful modality to diagnose FGTB with a higher pickup rate of cases. Hence it should be included as a part of composite reference standard.

Immune disturbances in female genital tuberculosis and latent genital tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: Female genital tuberculosis (FGTB), an important clinical sub-type of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) is responsible for about 10% cases of infertility in India. Both FGTB and latent genital tuberculosis (LGTB) can cause infertility through blockage of fallopian tubes and through altered uterine endometrial receptivity. AIMS: This review tries to elucidates the role of various immune factors in FGTB and LGTB. CONTENT: Various immune disturbances are observed in FGTB and LGTB like growth factors and cytokines which inhibit implantation and several inflammatory signaling pathways like mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK), natural killer (NK) cells, nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-KB), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and toll like receptors (TLR) signaling are dysregulated. These altered immune factors and pathways may be detected in the endometrial biopsies at the early stages of disease before permanent damage. Prompt and adequate treatment with the four anti-tubercular drugs (rifampicin [R], isoniazid [H], pyrazinamide [Z], and ethambutol [E]) can increase pregnancy rates in some of these women. Assisted reproduction especially in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer may be required for some women. IMPLICATIONS: Inflammatory pathways identified from the gene profiling have enabled development of potential biomarkers for early diagnosis of FGTB. Immunomodulation and novel biotechniques like stem cell transplantation, nanoparticles and host directed therapies are being tried in selected patients of FGTB and LGTB with promising results.

A RARE PRESENTATION OF GENITOURINARY TUBERCULOSIS MIMICKING ABDOMINAL TUMOR.

Genital tuberculosis is a rare and unexpected disease in European countries including Croatia. Diagnosis of female genital tract tuberculosis is challenging and is rarely pin-pointed by clinical symptoms because of their low specificity. The authors decided to present a case of genitourinary tuberculosis in a young, immunocompetent fertile woman with high clinical suspicion of abdominal tumor mass. Although considered a desease of the past, rare clinical presentation of genital tuberculosis should be expected and taken into account.

Dysfunctional regulation of pivotal and key inflammatory pathways in infertile Indian women with genital tuberculosis.

PROBLEM: Diagnosis of female genital tuberculosis (FGTB) remains elusive due to the paucibacillary nature of the disease. We evaluated if analysis of inflammatory pathways of endometrial tissue could establish a better diagnosis of FGTB. METHOD OF STUDY: One hundred and four infertile women suspected of having GTB or having been treated for GTB in the past, underwent endometrial biopsies for diagnosis and Gene Inflammatory Pathways analysis at our center between 2018-2020. Diagnosis of FGTB was based on acid-fast bacilli culture, immunocytochemistry, nested-polymerase chain reaction, histopathological examination, TB GeneXpert, or combinations thereof. Gene expression profiles were also analyzed. RESULTS: Based on diagnostic tests of 104 women, 44 (42%) were considered TB-positive, 35 (34%) TB-negative, and 25 (24%) TB-negative after TB treatment in the past. Inflammatory pathways were significantly upregulated in TB-positive women versus TB-negative (41% vs. 6%; p = .0005), and in women who were TB-negative after TB treatment in the past versus TB-negative (never treated for TB in the past) (38% vs. 6%; p = .0037). Two-hundred seventy-one genes were upregulated, and 61 genes were downregulated in TB-positive women versus those who were TB-negative. Differentially expressed genes were mapped to various interlinked inflammatory signaling pathways, including mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), Natural Killer (NK) cells, nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kB), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and Toll-like receptors (TLR) signaling. CONCLUSIONS: Inflammatory pathways and gene expression profiles add to the diagnostic tools to identify TB-positive women at an early stage. The results from this study are still experimental and large multi-centric studies are suggested before their recommendation in routine clinical practice.

Diagnosis of Genital Tuberculosis in Infertile Women by Using the Composite Reference Standard.

Female genital tuberculosis (FGTB) can be asymptomatic or even masquerade as other gynecological conditions. Conventional methods of FGTB diagnosis include various imaging, bacteriological, molecular, and pathological techniques that are only positive in a small percentage of patients, leaving many cases with undiagnosed condition. In the absence of a perfect diagnostic method, composite reference standards (CRSs) have been advocated in this diagnostic study. This study assesses the agreement between traditional diagnostic modalities using CRS and prevalent TB groups among different fallopian tube infertility manifestations. A total of 86 women with primary and secondary infertility were included in the study and subjected to bacteriological, pathological, and radiological examination for the diagnosis of FGTB. Results were evaluated statistically for concordance of the diagnostic tests to the CRS by sensitivity and specificity, while PPV and NPV were calculated for the performance of diagnostic tests of FGTB. We observed that 11.2% of women were found to be true positives by means of CRS. The positive findings by CRS were as follows: ultrasonography (13.9%), laparoscopy (14%), hysteroscopy (12%), GeneXpert (4.8%), culture (4.8%), polymerase chain reaction (4.8%), and histopathology (6.4%). GeneXpert and culture were found to have a perfect agreement with CRS. Hysterosalpingography, laparoscopy, and hysteroscopy have a fair agreement with CRS. Out of 43 women with tubal factor infertility, 6 women were found in the definitive TB group with mixed conditions of tubal manifestations. This study evaluates and demonstrates the reliability of the collective assessment of various diagnostic methods with CRS findings that help in identifying different TB groups of genital tuberculosis patients from all infertile patients by applying the criteria of CRS.

Differential diagnoses of endometrial thickness: A case report.

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease defined by the World Health Organization as a global priority. Extrapulmonary forms include lymph nodal, pleural and urogenital disease (FGTB), which generally affect patients between 20 and 40 years of age, and is rare in postmenopausal women. Its presentation can mimic carcinomatosis due to advanced ovarian and/or endometrial cancer. Non-diagnosis can lead to inappropriate treatment, notably surgical procedures, instead of the standard medical anti-TB chemotherapy.

Detection of genital tuberculosis among women with infertility using best clinical practices in India: An implementation study.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of genital tuberculosis (TB) as a cause of infertility still remains a diagnostic dilemma for clinicians, as no standard guidelines exist. The recently proposed best practices for genital TB diagnosis have not been evaluated yet in India. OBJECTIVES: To implement best practices to diagnose and treat likely genital TB as a cause of infertility. METHODS: Between April 2016 and June 2018, consenting women seen at a tertiary hospital infertility clinic were assessed by thorough TB related clinical history, ultrasonography, tuberculin skin test (TST), and ESR. Those with suspected genital TB underwent laparohysteroscopy. Clinical and laboratory characteristics were compared between likely (microbiologically confirmed or probable TB) and unlikely (possible and no genital TB) genital TB. Fertility outcome was assessed among women initiated on anti-TB treatment (ATT). RESULTS: Of 185 women seeking infertility care, likely genital TB was identified among 29 (15.7%) women, with 6 (21%) confirmed and 23 (79%) probable genital TB. Compared to unlikely genital TB cases, the likely genital TB group were found to have past history of TB (p < 0.001); positive TST (p = 0.002) and elevated ESR (p = 0.001). Among the likely genital TB group, all 6 confirmed genital TB were started on ATT and 2 (33.3%) conceived. Of 5 probable genital TB started on ATT, 3 (60%) conceived. CONCLUSION: Approximately 1/6th of women seeking infertility care met the criteria for likely genital TB. Conception among over-half of treated probable genital TB cases provides preliminary evidence that best clinical practices can be utilized, but needs further confirmatory studies.

Sharma's sigmoid colonic adhesive band - A new laparoscopic sign in female genital tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: Female genital tuberculosis (FGTB) is a form of extra pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) affecting women of reproductive age group. It causes significant morbidity in women especially infertility particularly in developing countries. Diagnosis is by endometrial sampling for acid fast bacilli (AFB) microscopy, culture, gene Xpert, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), histopathological evidence of epithelioid granuloma and by laparoscopic findings suggestive of tuberculosis. AIM: Present study was conducted to observe the prevalence of a new "Sharma's Sigmoid colonic adhesive band "in FGTB on laparoscopy. METHODS: It was a prospective study in a tertiary referral center as a part of our ongoing tuberculosis project on 148 infertile women found to have FGTB on microbiological or laparoscopic findings over previous 10 years. A new laparoscopic "Sharma's Sigmoid colonic adhesive band" was looked for in these cases on laparoscopy. RESULTS: The mean age, parity and duration of infertility and incidence of poor socioeconomic status was 26.9 years, 0.49, 5.3 years and 65.54% respectively. All patients had infertility with 83.78% primary and 16.22% secondary infertility while menstrual dysfuction especially hypomenorrhoea (31.75%), oligomenorrhoea (32.48%) were seen in respective cases. Constitutional symptoms like pyrexia (21.62%), weight loss (31.75%) appetite loss (33.5%) and abdominal pain (11.48%) and pelvic pain (27.70%) or abdominal mass (8.78%) and pelvic masses (35.81%) were also seen. Diagnosis of FGTB was made on endometrial or peritoneal biopsy microscopy or culture for AFB or positive gene Xpert or positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or histopathological demonstration of epithelioid granuloma or on laparoscopic findings of FGTB. Various laparoscopic findings were tubercles on pelvic organs (45.27%), shaggy areas (white deposits) on pelvic organs (43.91%),beaded or convoluted tubes (9.45%), hyperemic tubes (29.05%), caseous nodules in pelvis (29.72%), encysted ascites (14.18%), abdominal adhesions (32.43%), pelvic adhesions (42.56%), calcified and rigid tubes (6.08%). The new laparoscopic sigmoid colonic adhesive band was seen in 49 (33.10%) patients of FGTB. CONCLUSION: The new laparoscopic "Sharma's Sigmoid colonic adhesive band" appears to be an important finding in patients with FGTB.

Endometritis granulomatosa por tuberculosis en mujer postmenopaúsica / Granulomatous tuberculosis endometritis in a posmenopausal woman

INTRODUCCIÓN: La tuberculosis (TBC) genital es una infección relativamente poco frecuente en la mujer. Afecta principalmente a mujeres menores de 40 años, y el motivo de consulta más usual es la esterilidad, de ahí la importancia de su diagnóstico precoz. CASO CLÍNICO clínico: Se presenta el caso de una paciente con dolor pélvico crónico que acude a nuestras consultas para valoración. Durante el estudio se toma biopsia dirigida de la cavidad endometrial diagnosticándose la presencia de granulomas no necrotizantes. Posteriormente se realiza un cultivo microbiológico que resulta positivo para micobacterias y se determina el DNA, mediante reacción en cadena de la polimerasa, de mycobacterium tuberculosis, como causante del cuadro. DISCUSIÓN: El diagnóstico definitivo de TBC requiere el aislamiento en cultivo del bacilo de Koch, aunque en los casos de TBC genital, al ser una entidad paucibacilar, puede no resultar positivo. En éste caso, sería suficiente el diagnóstico de presunción basado en la sospecha clínica y el hallazgo histológico de granulomas. CONCLUSIÓN: La tuberculosis genital es una entidad poco frecuente en nuestro medio, aunque es una causa importante de infertilidad femenina y su predominio generalmente se subestima debido a la naturaleza paucisintomática de la misma. El diagnóstico temprano y el tratamiento multidisciplinar son fundamentales.

INTRODUCTION: Genital tuberculosis (TB) is a relatively rare afection in women. It mainly affects women younger than 40 years, and the most frequent reason for consultation is sterility, therefore early diagnosis is important. CLINICAL CASE: We presented the case of a patient with chronic pelvic pain who comes to our consultations. During the study, we take an endometrial biopsy diagnosing the presence of non-necrotizing granulomas. Finally, we determined the mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA through the polymerase chain reaction and positive microbiological culture, as the cause of pathology. DISCUSSION: The definitive diagnosis of TB requires the isolation in culture of the Koch bacillus, although in genital TB cases, as it is a paucibacillary entity, it may not be positive. In this case, the presumptive diagnosis based on clinical suspicion and the histological granulomas would be enough. CONCLUSIONS: Genital tuberculosis is a rare entity in our environment, although it is an important cause of female infertility and its prevalence is generally underestimated due to its paucisymptomatic nature. Early diagnosis and multidisciplinary treatment are essential.

Tuberculosis and ovarian malignancy: Sometimes mimics, sometimes coexists.

Tuberculosis is a disease prevalent all over the world with India contributing to a larger share. Pulmonary tuberculosis presents with generalized symptoms of malaise, low grade fever and cough. On the other hand, genital tuberculosis presents with a variety of symptoms in each age group and is often underdiagnosed and missed. In an unmarried female, the usual presentations are menstrual complaints or presence of a solid cystic mass and ascites. In reproductive age group, patients may present with primary or secondary infertility or rarely with tubo-ovarian masses with peritoneal deposits, omental thickening and lymph node enlargement, hence mimicking ovarian carcinoma. In postmenopausal females, it can present as postmenopausal bleeding, leucorrhea or pyometra giving suspicion of endometrial carcinoma. We hereby report two cases operated with provisional diagnosis of ovarian malignancy but final histopathology ruled out malignancy in first and confirmed coexistence of malignancy and tuberculosis in another.

Female genital tuberculosis in light of newer laboratory tests: A narrative review.

Female genital tract tuberculosis (FGTB) is a chronic disease with varied presentation. The diagnosis of FGTB for early institution of treatment remains a clinical challenge. Its laboratory diagnosis is difficult because of paucibacillary nature of the condition and limitation of available diagnostic tests. In view of the intricate problems in diagnosis of FGTB, physicians tend to over treat with empirical anti-tuberculosis drugs. Apart from concerns of drug toxicity, this may be a contributing factor in the increasing incidence of multidrug-resistant TB reported in India. The main goal for advances in TB diagnostics is to reduce delay in diagnosis and treatment. In addition, there should be reduced complexity, improving robustness, and improving accuracy of the laboratory test for diagnosis of Female genital tuberculosis. OBJECTIVE: This narrative review is written with the following objectives. 1) To get a comprehensive overview as well as recent advances in diagnostic test used in the detection of FGTB. 2) To understand the limitations as well as advantages of these laboratory diagnostic test. 3) To provide clinical guidance regarding the detection in susceptible women. METHOD: The literature search was performed using electronic database of Pubmed, Medline, Embase and Google Scholar. Grey literature search was also done. Studies published in English were included. Following keywords were used for search - Tuberculosis, extra pulmonary tuberculosis, female genital tuberculosis, diagnosis of female genital tract tuberculosis. The personal knowledge and experience of authors in the field, helped in archiving the relevant articles. RESULT: Studies suggest that though culture is an invaluable contributor in the diagnosis of FGTB, molecular tests like PCR, LAMP, Xpert MTB/RIF and line probe assays have shown potential and are now being explored to strengthen the diagnostic algorithm of FGTB. CONCLUSION: The use of algorithm approach with combination of both rapid culture and newer molecular techniques will facilitate the accurate and timely diagnosis of FGTB.

Role of Laparoscopy in the Diagnosis of Genital TB in Infertile Females in the Era of Molecular Tests.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess diagnostic value of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in endometrial aspirates (EAs) in comparison with conventional tests for diagnosis of female genital tuberculosis (TB) and to find agreement between EA PCR done for endometrial TB and laparoscopic findings of pelvic TB in women with unexplained infertility. DESIGN: Prospective observational cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 732 infertile females screened and 385 enrolled to undergo procedure to obtain EAs. INTERVENTIONS: EAs were tested by conventional tests (histopathology, acid-fast bacilli, Lowenstein-Jensen staining, liquid culture) and PCR for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Patients with positive conventional tests were started on antitubercular treatment (ATT). Patients with negative conventional tests underwent laparohysteroscopy irrespective of PCR results to assess changes of tubercular infection in the pelvis. Peritoneal washings were also sent for liquid culture and PCR for TB, and suspicious lesions were biopsied at laparohysteroscopy. Findings at laparoscopy upgraded the diagnosis in these women. EAPCR results were analyzed to find agreement with the findings at laparoscopy. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Conventional tests were positive in 8 of 385 (2%) patients. PCR was positive in 58.1% (n = 224) of endometrial samples, with sensitivity of 62.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 24.49-91.48), specificity of 41.91% (95% CI, 36.88-47.07), positive predictive value of 2.23% (95% CI, 1.31-3.78), negative predictive value of 98.14% (95% CI, 95.53-99.24), and a diagnostic accuracy of 42.34% (95% CI, 37.35-47.45) with conventional tests. A total of 265 patients underwent laparoscopy, of whom 165 were PCR positive and 100 were PCR negative. Laparoscopic findings suggestive of TB were found in 39.3% of patients who were PCR positive and 9% of patients who were PCR negative. Kappa agreement was 0.25, suggesting fair agreement between PCR and laparoscopy. CONCLUSION: PCR as a stand-alone diagnostic test for endometrial TB is not justified to confirm diagnosis and initiate ATT. The addition of laparohysteroscopy improves diagnostic yield for genital TB. Referring patients with a suspicion of female genital TB to tertiary care for 1-time laparoscopy is better than initiating ATT solely on the basis of PCR results.

[Rare location of tuberculosis: endometrial tuberculosis]. / Une localisation rare de la tuberculose: la tuberculose endométriale.

Tuberculosis is a public health problem, especially in the developing countries. Bacillary pulmonary tuberculosis is the most common form of tuberculosis while genital tuberculosis is rare and underdiagnosed. We here report a case of endometrial tuberculosis. The study involved a 72-year old female patient with SC hemoglobinopathy consulting her gynecologist because of chronic leukorrhea. Cytobacteriologic assessment of vaginal swabs showed Streptococcus agalactatiae. Despite suitable antibiotic therapy, the evolution was marked by the persistence of leukorrhea. Pelvic ultrasonography objectified thickened endometrium, appearing as hyperechoic at the base of the uterus. This was suggestive of endometrial cancer. Anatomo-pathological examination of endometrial curettage samples showed granulomatous endometritis suggesting follicular tuberculosis. Outcome was favorable under antituberculosis treatment. In TB endemic areas, genital tuberculosis is not exceptional and should be suspected in patients with chronic leukorrhea despite suitable treatment.

Endometrial Tuberculosis: Hysteroscopic Findings of a Clinical Case.

Endometrial tuberculosis is a rare diagnosis in the postmenopausal period, and it can mimic a carcinoma. The present article describes the case of a 54-year-old female patient with weight loss, abdominal pain, and ascites. An ultrasonography showed endometrial thickening, and a video hysteroscopy revealed a uterine cavity with formations with cotton aspect covering the entire endometrial surface and the tubal ostia. An anatomopathological evaluation diagnosed endometrial tuberculosis. The treatment was with a standardized therapeutic scheme (ethambutol, isoniazid, pyrazinamide and rifampicin), and the patient evolved with clinical improvement and normal uterine cavity at hysteroscopy. Considering the lack of pathognomonic hysteroscopic findings of the disorder, it is important to disclose the images of the case.

A tuberculose endometrial é um diagnóstico raro na pós-menopausa e pode mimetizar um carcinoma. O presente artigo descreve o caso de uma paciente de 54 anos com perda de peso, dor abdominal e ascite. A ultrassonografia mostrou espessamento endometrial, e a histeroscopia por vídeo revelou uma cavidade uterina com formações que apresentavam aspecto de algodão cobrindo toda a superfície endometrial e os óstios tubários. Uma avaliação anatomopatológica diagnosticou tuberculose endometrial. O tratamento foi com esquema terapêutico padronizado (etambutol, isoniazida, pirazinamida e rifampicina), e a paciente evoluiu com melhora clínica e cavidade uterina normal na histeroscopia. Considerando a falta de achados histeroscópicos patognomônicos do distúrbio, é importante divulgar as imagens do caso.

Conventional polymerase chain reaction and amplification refractory mutation system-multi-gene/ multi-primer PCR in the diagnosis of female genital tuberculosis.

This review mainly summarizes disease, immune-pathology and the clinical usefulness, advances, potential applications and limitations of new, cutting-edge technology (MG/MP-PCR and/or ARMS-MG/MP-PCR) in the detection of female genital tuberculosis (FGTB) disease and gene polymorphism among infertile patients. The investigation was set in the Department of Zoology, Osmania University and National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India. Desired articles were critically reviewed and analysed. Keywords and NET searches were conducted in all electronic databases starting from September, 2006. Full-text English-language reviews and research articles describing FGTB, infertility, gene polymorphism, conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and multigene (MG)/multiprimer (MP)-PCR were included. The current review provides a comprehensive overview on the PCR and types (multiplex, nested, RT etc.) including the reagents, cycling conditions and pitfalls in the detection of FGTB disease and gene polymorphism among infertile patients. It provides limited information on MG/MP-PCR. At present, conventional PCR, MG/MP-PCR and/or amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS)-MG/MP-PCR have emerged as scientific innovations and perform significant function in medical research, mutational analysis and clinical investigations. This review admits that MG/MP-PCR and/or ARMS-MG/MP-PCR has the capacity to diagnose disease rapidly and to genotype a large number of samples. MG/MP-PCR and/or ARMS-MG/MP-PCR are considered as simple, reliable, non-isotopic, low-cost, fast, accurate and relatively easy-to-perform procedure. This review suggests that this method needs to be critically evaluated using huge number of clinical samples occurring across the world and then can be accredited for clinical utilization.

Multiplex PCR from Menstrual Blood: A Non-Invasive Cost-Effective Approach to Reduce Diagnostic Dilemma for Genital Tuberculosis.

AIM: Genital tuberculosis (GTB) is a potent contributor to irreversible damage to the reproductive system and infertility in females. As no gold standard diagnostic tool is yet available, clinical suspicion and relatively insensitive approaches such as histopathology, laparoscopy and hysterosalpingogram are currently critical determinants in the diagnosis of GTB. Although a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay using endometrial tissue seems promising, sampling does require an invasive procedure. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that menstrual blood may provide an alternate non-invasive source of samples for PCR-based GTB diagnosis. METHODS: We enrolled 195 women with primary infertility in whom GTB was suspected. We obtained ethics committee approval from our institution and written informed consent from subjects. Endometrial tissue and menstrual blood was collected from the subjects and culture, histopathology, and multiplex PCR with both sample type was performed for each subject. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of multiplex PCR was, respectively, 90.2 and 86.1% for menstrual blood, 95.8 and 84.3% for endometrial tissue, and 64.8 and 93.2% for histopathology staining. CONCLUSIONS: A strong clinical suspicion aided with multiplex PCR using menstrual blood may significantly reduce the diagnostic dilemma for GTB diagnosis in a non-invasive, sensitive, rapid, and cost-effective manner.

Female genital tuberculosis: Revisited.

Female genital tuberculosis (FGTB) is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (rarely Mycobacterium bovis and/or atypical mycobacteria) being usually secondary to TB of the lungs or other organs with infection reaching through haematogenous, lymphatic route or direct spread from abdominal TB. In FGTB, fallopian tubes are affected in 90 per cent women, whereas uterine endometrium is affected in 70 per cent and ovaries in about 25 per cent women. It causes menstrual dysfunction and infertility through the damage of genital organs. Some cases may be asymptomatic. Diagnosis is often made from proper history taking, meticulous clinical examination and judicious use of investigations, especially endometrial aspirate (or biopsy) and endoscopy. Treatment is through multi-drug antitubercular treatment for adequate time period (rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, ethambutol daily for 60 days followed by rifampicin, isoniazid, ethambutol daily for 120 days). Treatment is given for 18-24 months using the second-line drugs for drug-resistant (DR) cases. With the advent of increased access to rapid diagnostics and newer drugs, the management protocol is moving towards achieving universal drug sensitivity testing and treatment with injection-free regimens containing newer drugs, especially for new and previously treated DR cases.