Peripancreatic tuberculous lymphadenopathy. An impostor posing diagnostic difficulty
Cherian, J.V.; Somasundaram, A.; Ponnusamy, R.P.; Venkataraman, J.
Jop Journal of the Pancreas 8(3): 326-329
2007
ISSN/ISBN: 1590-8577 PMID: 17495362 Document Number: 613304
Involvement of the peripancreatic lymph nodes by tuberculosis is rare and the clinical presentation varies. It can mimic cystic neoplasms of the pancreas. We report the case of a patient having peripancreatic tuberculosis who presented with fever, jaundice, supraclavicular lymphadenopathy and weight loss. Imaging and tumor markers also suggested a pancreatic malignancy. MRI helped to identify the peripancreatic lymph node involvement and biopsy of the supraclavicular lymph node clinched the diagnosis. Pancreatic and peripancreatic tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cystic lesions of the head of the pancreas.