Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Imaging Features of Focal Splenic Tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to characterize the contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging features of focal splenic tuberculosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the conventional ultrasound (US) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging features of 22 patients with splenic TB confirmed by surgical histopathology or biopsy. RESULTS Conventional US demonstrated that 15 of the 22 patients had a single lesion, while 7 had multiple lesions. The maximum diameter of the lesions ranged from 1.0 to 3.7 cm. Of the 22, 17 were detected with hypoecho and 5 were detected with complex echo by conventional US. Seven (7/22) were detected with blood flow signals by color Doppler flow image (CDFI). CUES demonstrated that 18 cases (81.8%, 18/22) began to enhance in the arterial phase, mostly followed by slow wash-out in the intermediate or late parenchymal phase, and 4 (18.2%, 4/22) presented with non-enhancement during all phases. The enhancement patterns were categorized into 4 types: Type I, homogeneous enhancement (2/22); Type II, rim-like enhancement (12/22); Type III, septation-like enhancement (4/22); and Type IV, non-enhancement (4/22). CONCLUSIONS CEUS showed that splenic TB lesions were enhanced in the arterial phase, followed by slow washed out or persistent enhancement in the intermediate and late parenchymal phases. The rim- or septation-like enhancement may be helpful for diagnosing splenic TB. The splenic lesions presenting round hypoecho by conventional US and complete non-enhancement by CEUS are highly suspicious of splenic TB.

Diagnostic Utility and Impact on Clinical Decision Making of Focused Assessment With Sonography for HIV-Associated Tuberculosis in Malawi: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: The focused assessment with sonography for HIV-associated tuberculosis (TB) (FASH) ultrasound protocol has been increasingly used to help clinicians diagnose TB. We sought to quantify the diagnostic utility of FASH for TB among individuals with HIV in Malawi. METHODS: Between March 2016 and August 2017, 210 adults with HIV who had 2 or more signs and symptoms that were concerning for TB (fever, cough, night sweats, weight loss) were enrolled from a public HIV clinic in Lilongwe, Malawi. The treating clinicians conducted a history, physical exam, FASH protocol, and additional TB evaluation (laboratory diagnostics and chest radiography) on all participants. The clinician made a final treatment decision based on all available information. At the 6-month follow-up visit, we categorized participants based on clinical outcomes and diagnostic tests as having probable/confirmed TB or unlikely TB; association of FASH with probable/confirmed TB was calculated using Fisher's exact tests. The impact of FASH on empiric TB treatment was determined by asking the clinicians prospectively about whether they would start treatment at 2 time points in the baseline visit: (1) after the initial history and physical exam; and (2) after history, physical exam, and FASH protocol. RESULTS: A total of 181 participants underwent final analysis, of whom 56 were categorized as probable/confirmed TB and 125 were categorized as unlikely TB. The FASH protocol was positive in 71% (40/56) of participants with probable/confirmed TB compared to 24% (30/125) of participants with unlikely TB (odds ratio=7.9, 95% confidence interval=3.9,16.1; P<.001). Among those classified as confirmed/probable TB, FASH increased the likelihood of empiric TB treatment before obtaining any other diagnostic studies from 9% (5/56) to 46% (26/56) at the point-of-care. For those classified as unlikely TB, FASH increased the likelihood of empiric treatment from 2% to 4%. CONCLUSION: In the setting of HIV coinfection in Malawi, FASH can be a helpful tool that augments the clinician's ability to make a timely diagnosis of TB.

Hepatosplenic Tuberculosis on Pretherapy and Posttherapy FDG PET/CT.

A 65-year-old woman underwent FDG PET/CT for presumed hepatosplenic malignancy suggested by an abdominal CT. The images revealed multiple foci of intense FDG activity in both the liver and the spleen. However, a splenic biopsy result revealed no malignant cells, and either tuberculosis or sarcoidosis was proposed. Following an incomplete antituberculosis therapy, a repeat FDG PET/CT showed resolution of the abnormal activity in the liver and the spleen.

Common and uncommon imaging features of abdominal tuberculosis.

Despite the advances in the medical care, tuberculosis (TB) still remains an important health problem. This is particularly relevant to the developing countries as well as the immunocompromised population in the developed world. Multidrug resistance poses another challenge and may be responsible for increasing incidence of TB, to some extent. The respiratory system is the most commonly involved, although any organ system may be affected. Abdominal involvement occurs in 11-12% of the patients with extrapulmonary TB. The clinical features of abdominal TB are nonspecific. Imaging plays an important role in the diagnosis of abdominal TB. Although a few imaging features strongly favour the possibility of TB, abdominal TB is a greater masquerader. In this review, we highlight the entire spectrum of the manifestations of abdominal tuberculosis (excluding the genitourinary involvement) with an emphasis on imaging findings.

Isolated splenic tuberculosis with subsequent paradoxical deterioration: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Isolated tuberculosis of the spleen has been described occasionally in literature, mostly in immunosuppressed individuals with various risk factors. Sequestration in the spleen makes such Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection difficult to diagnose. This report describes an extremely rare case of isolated splenic tuberculosis in an immunocompetent individual. CASE PRESENTATION: A 26 year old Kenyan male presented with pyrexia of unknown origin, with negative screening tests for bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections. Ziehl-Neelsen staining and GeneXpert tests were negative for M. tuberculosis. Diagnosis of isolated splenic tuberculosis was made on core biopsy of the spleen. The patient initially worsened upon treatment with antituberculous medication attributable to the 'Paradoxical Reaction' phenomenon, before making full recovery. CONCLUSIONS: This case highlights the need to continuously be on the lookout for tuberculosis especially in unusual presentations, including subsequent paradoxical reaction which may be encountered.

Solitary splenic tuberculosis: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis remains one of the most prevalent and fatal infectious diseases in spite of considerable improvements in medical science. Tuberculosis is an important health problem in developing countries. There are few cases of solitary splenic tuberculosis reported in the literature internationally. Solitary splenic tuberculosis is extremely rare and is mostly seen in individuals with immunosuppression. Patients susceptible to acquiring splenic tuberculosis usually have some risk factors such as immunosuppression, pyogenic infections, splenic abnormalities, spleen trauma, sickle cell disease, and so on (Basa JV, Singh L, Jaoude WA, Sugiyama G, Int J Surg 8C:117-119,2015). CASE PRESENTATION: Here we report a case of surgically confirmed mass-forming solitary splenic tuberculosis in a 64-year-old woman who presented with abdominal discomfort for two months, but with no other symptoms. Laboratory data provided no specific information for diagnosis. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a large hypoechoic lesion within the spleen. Computed tomography scan of the abdomen showed a solitary hypodense lesion. A diagnosis of solitary splenic tuberculosis was confirmed after a splenectomy was performed and histopathological examination revealed splenic tuberculosis. CONCLUSIONS: Solitary splenic tuberculosis is rare and associated with an immunocompetent patient is extremely rare. It is hard to correctly diagnose it by US or CT scan.

Hepatosplenic tuberculosis simulating secondary malignant lesions with cholangitis.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic and/or splenic tuberculosis may simulate much pathology including malignancies, which can roam the diagnosis. Biopsy is necessary for diagnosis. The treatment allows healing and a cleaning of radiological lesions. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a 48-old-black Senegalese woman, immunocompetent, hospitalized for febrile jaundice and poor general condition. Imaging and hepatic biopsy showed hepatosplenic tuberculosis with cholangitis, simulating secondary malignancies lesions. The outcome was favorable under treatment. CONCLUSION: In front of hepatic nodular lesions simulating malignancies in a tuberculosis endemic areas, achieving a liver biopsy helps rectify the diagnosis.

A rare presentation of splenic tuberculosis with a pseudocyst.

Splenic tuberculosis is an unusual manifestation of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, especially in immunocompetent hosts. It often poses diagnostic difficulties as microbiological confirmation is not easy. In this case report, we describe a case of pseudocyst of the spleen due to tuberculosis, which is a rare clinical presentation with only one case having been reported previously. A 24-year-old immunocompetent woman presented with pain in the abdomen, vomiting and fever. On evaluation the patient was found to have a cyst arising from the spleen. Splenectomy was performed. Pathological examination of the specimen revealed a pseudocyst with granulomas and giant cells consistent with tuberculosis. Cyst fluid analysis revealed lymphocyte predominance with high adenosine deaminase levels. The patient was started on 6 months of antituberculous therapy postoperatively. On follow-up, the patient was found to have gained weight and showed signs of well-being.

Ultrasound presentation of abdominal tuberculosis in a German tertiary care center.

OBJECTIVE: Abdominal tuberculosis (TB) is a relatively rare disease in most of Europe and the typical clinical and sonographic findings in this setting have not been studied. We aimed to define sonographic findings that should alert an examiner to the possibility of abdominal TB in a low endemic region. METHODS: Case records of 17 patients with proven (n = 11) or highly likely (n = 6) abdominal TB detected in the gastrointestinal ultrasound unit at a German tertiary care center in 2003-2013 were analyzed retrospectively. Findings were compared with reported series from high-prevalence regions. RESULTS: While 76% of patients had an immigrant background, only 35% had a condition associated with immunosuppression. Lymphadenopathy was present in all cases of abdominal TB, while it was absent in 28% of patients from a control group with proven abdominal sarcoidosis. Moreover, retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy was significantly more common in TB. Other findings in patients with abdominal TB in descending order of frequency were ascites, altered hepatic texture, splenomegaly, splenic lesions, peritoneal thickening, intestinal wall lesions, hepatic lesions and hepatomegaly. 76% of abdominal TB patients had 2 or more pathological findings. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple pathological intra-abdominal findings including lymphadenopathy should alert the examiner to the possibility of abdominal TB.

Clinical profile of patients having splenic involvement in tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis of spleen is very rare, usually seen in disseminated or miliary form of the disease and in patients having HIV infection. Splenic tuberculosis is currently described poorly in available literature. OBJECTIVES: In this series, we analyzed the clinical profile of patients having splenic involvement in tuberculosis. METHODS: Patients of tuberculosis (pulmonary and/or extra-pulmonary) with abnormal splenic parenchymal lesion on ultrasound were scanned in the light of demographic, clinical, radiological features, response to treatment and co-morbid illnesses. In selected eligible cases, CT scan abdomen and ultrasound guided FNAC of spelnic lesion was also done. RESULTS: Most of the patients (62%) were in the age group of 25-50 years with male/female ratio of 3:1. Constitutional symptoms such as fever (75%), anorexia (50%), and weight loss (10%) were common presentations apart from other symptoms such as pain abdomen (62%) and distention (12%). Half of these patients also had HIV infection. 62% patients had associated pulmonary tuberculosis. Other body sites involved were ascites (50%), intraabdominal lymph nodes (37%), pleural effusion (37%), cervical lymph nodes (12%), intestine (12.5%), etc. Ultrasonographic findings were multiple splenic abscess (62%), multiple diffuse, hypo-echoic foci (25%), solitary abscess and calcified granuloma (6%). About 44% patients became asymptomatic after receiving Category I treatment under RNTCP with complete clearance of initial sonographic abnormality in splenic parenchyma. CONCLUSION: The splenic involvement in tuberculosis seems to be more frequent in patients with HIV infection and in disseminated form of disease. Ultrasonography of the spleen is simple, easily available, affordable, non-invasive, imaging technique highly useful for the diagnosis of splenic involvement in tuberculosis. The sonographic findings should be correlated with overall clinical presentation with demonstration of tuberculosis at other body sites and image guided FNAC may be considered in cases with isolated splenic involvement.

Radiological manifestations of splenic tuberculosis: a 23-patient case series from India.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Splenic tuberculosis (TB) is a less common but important manifestation of abdominal TB, especially in India and other developing countries. Its prevalence is increasing with the epidemic of HIV-TB co-infection and subsequent rise in extrapulmonary TB. The range of radiological manifestations of splenic TB is poorly described. Here, we review the ultrasonographic and computed tomographic (CT) images of 23 cases from two large tertiary care centers in India. METHODS: Radiographic images, ultrasonographic in all cases and CT in selected cases, were retrospectively analyzed in a series of 23 patients presenting to two large tertiary care centers in India, with suspected TB and with splenomegaly on physical examination. Images were assessed at baseline and when available following anti-tuberculosis therapy. RESULTS: The ultrasound and CT findings included, in order of most common: single or multiple hypoechoic focal lesions, splenic abscess, calcifications (on CT), and isolated splenomegaly. Five of the six patients with findings of isolated splenomegaly on ultrasound were found to have lesions on CT. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography of the spleen is an affordable, non-invasive imaging modality, which can be helpful in diagnosis of splenic TB and assessment of therapeutic response. Proper use of this imaging modality in splenic TB should help avoid unnecessary CT imaging or invasive procedures. However, this technique is operator-dependent, and, when extensive intraabdominal involvement is suspected, or the diagnosis is unclear, CT may be necessary.