Isolated Tuberculous Epididymitis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

In 2021, tuberculosis remains a world health problem. It is still the first cause of mortality by infectious disease in the world [1]. Fortunately, in developed countries, tuberculosis is a very rare pathology. Genitourinary tuberculosis has been reported to account for 20% to 73% of all cases of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in the general population [2]. The epididymal involvement accounts for only about 20% of the genitourinary tuberculosis [3]. Isolated genitourinary tuberculosis (GUTB) is a rare and unusual presentation of tuberculosis that occurs in young male or female adults and that can cause infertility [4]. Most of the time, infertility is due to the inflammation and scarring that follow the infection, resulting in distortion of the normal anatomy and causing obstruction of the excretory tract [5]. The disease typically develops slowly. Early diagnosis is difficult, therefore delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis are common [6].