Diagnosis of genitourinary tuberculosis by loop-mediated isothermal amplification based on SYBR Green I dye reaction.

A multitargeted loop-mediated isothermal amplification (MT-LAMP) assay targeting mpt64 (Rv1980c) and IS6110 was designed to diagnose genitourinary tuberculosis (GUTB) cases. While assessing gel-based, hydroxynaphthol blue (HNB) and SYBR Green I MT-LAMP assays on GUTB specimens (n = 28) in a pilot study, both gel-based/SYBR Green I assays exhibited better sensitivity than HNB LAMP. Since SYBR Green MT-LAMP is easier to perform compared with a gel-based assay, a higher number of GUTB specimens (n = 55) were evaluated by SYBR Green MT-LAMP, wherein 85.5% sensitivity and 94.4% specificity (n = 36) were obtained. Moreover, the sensitivity attained by MT-LAMP was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than with multiplex-PCR (mpt64 + IS6110). After further validating these MT-LAMP data in different epidemiological settings, this assay may be developed as a diagnostic kit.

Laparoscopic management of a large primary retroperitoneal hydatid cyst.

Hydatid cysts usually involve the liver and lungs, but any other organ can potentially be involved and these can mimic numerous pathologies; however, primary involvement of the retroperitoneum and presentation as a left-sided abdominal mass is quite unusual. A 30-year-old male presented with a large cystic lump in the left side of the abdomen that was diagnosed as a primary retroperitoneal hydatid cyst by a computed tomography scan and serology. The patient was managed successfully by minimal access surgery. This report highlights that a primary retroperitoneal hydatid cyst is a rare clinical entity and should be considered as one of the differential diagnoses in patients presenting with a cystic mass in the retroperitoneum. In the present era of minimal access surgery, it can be safely managed with a laparoscopic approach.