Title:Uncommon Location for a Common Disease, Simulating Cervical Cancer:
A Rare Case Report
Volume: 24
Issue: 1
Author(s): Naina Kumar*, Kanikaram Poojitha Kalyani, Abhimanyu Sharma, Sumitra Sivakoti and Mishu Mangla
Affiliation:
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bibinagar-508126, Hyderabad
Metropolitan Region, Telangana, India
Keywords:
Acid-fast bacilli, carcinoma, cervix, infertility, tuberculosis, Genital tuberculosis.
Abstract:
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.
