Abstract
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A Clinical Diagnostic Dilemma: a Case Report of Primary Hepatic Tuberculosis
by Jun Cheng, Lei Zhao, Tianru Shi, Ziwen Zhu, Nelson OW Sham, Huaping Xiao, Qian Bai, Mark R. Wakefield, Ying Ye, Yujiang Fang
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Background: Primary hepatic tuberculosis is a very rare clinical form of tuberculosis, with atypical clinical presentations and nonspecific imaging features. This results in great difficulty to reach a correct and timely clinical diagnosis. Traditionally, liver biopsy is the gold standard for its diagnosis. Here we assessed the effectiveness of using a T-SPOT.TB test in the early diagnosis of primary hepatic tuberculosis.
Methods: We report a case of primary hepatic tuberculosis whose location of hepatic lesion renders it hard to perform a biopsy. Instead, a T-SPOT.TB test was utilized to help in the early diagnosis of this rare form of tuberculosis. A conventional fourdrug regimen for anti-tubercular therapy together with vitamin B6 was initiated and maintained for 6 months.
Results: The T-SPOT.TB test was highly positive for ESAT-6 (87 > 20) and CFP-10 (89 > 20). Dull pain in the upper right abdomen was gone 2 months post treatment. The abnormal lesions shown in an MRI reduced significantly 4 months post treatment. Spot count for ESAT-6 and CFP-10 decreased 6 months post treatment.
Conclusions: The results of this study suggest the critical role of T-SPOT.TB test in the earlier diagnosis of prima¬ry hepatic tuberculosis for those patients who have difficulties having a hepatic biopsy.
DOI: 10.7754/Clin.Lab.2018.180736
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