Female genital tuberculosis cases with distinct clinical symptoms: Four case reports

Mahmut Ulger,Faik Gurkan Yazici,Gonul Aslan,Gurol Emekdas,Huseyin Durukan,Seda Tezcan Ulger

doi:10.29252/ijrm.16.1.57

Mahmut Ulger, Faik Gurkan Yazici + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.29252/ijrm.16.1.57

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Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Genital TB (GTB) is a form of extrapulmonary TB that occurs more frequently in women, in whom it classically presents in association with menstrual irregularity, pregnancy loss and short and long-term sequelae especially infertility in infected women. Patients with GTB are usually young women diagnosed during workup for infertility. GTB is rare in postmenopausal women and responsible for only approximately 1% of postmenopausal bleeding. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the laboratory, clinical and demographic characteristics of female GTB cases. We presented four female GTB cases with distinct clinical symptoms. All patients have no history of TB, and no acid-fast bacilli were seen in smears prepared from the clinical materials of the patients. Histopathological examinations revealed granulomatous inflammation in all patients. In the light of the clinical features of these cases we aimed to emphasize that, female GTB must be taken into account in the patients with different clinical symptoms like postmenopausal bleeding, menometrorrhagia, infertility, and menstrual irregularities. We believe that these symptoms will be helpful for the diagnosis and treatment of female GTB.

Highlights

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis)
With conventional biochemical methods and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-RFLP method, all strains were identified as Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC)
Like PTB, Genital TB (GTB) is usually related to M. tuberculosis and female GTB is usually a secondary complication of pulmonary or extrapulmonary TB forms located other than the genital tract [14, 15]

Summary

Introduction

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). With conventional biochemical methods and PCR-RFLP method, all strains were identified as Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC). After homogenization and decontamination procedure, biopsy material was stained with EZN and no AFB was seen. According to the identification with conventional biochemical methods and PCR-RFLP, the strain was identified as MTC. No AFB was seen after homogenization and decontamination procedure In this case, both LJ and MGIT mediums were positive. Case 3: A 22-yr-old virgin female presented with lower abdominal pain with menstrual irregularities. She took non-specific antibiotics for 15 days. In culture, both LJ and MGIT mediums were positive. After the identification of strain as MTC, anti-TB susceptibility was performed and SM resistance was detected solely. Anti-TB susceptibility was performed and the strain was sensitive to all first-line anti-TB drugs

Discussion

Conclusion

Findings

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