Splenic Tuberculosis Presenting as Ascites in Immunocompetant Patient

Author(s):

Lonkar Y, Parikh S, Kumar S, Diwan SK, Bhake A

Tuberculosis can involve any part of the gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus, the peritoneum and the pancreatobiliary system. Here we report a case of splenic tuberculosis in a 60-year-old man who presented with ascitis. Splenic tuberculosis is an unusual clinical presentation, especially in immunocompetent patients. No primary focus of infection was detected in the lungs or any other organs. The postulated mechanisms by which the tubercule bacilli reach the peritoneum is through direct spread from adjacent organs like spleen in this case.