Cryptic miliary tuberculosis with a clinical prodrome resembling pancreatitis

Abstract

The diagnosis of miliary tuberculosis (TB) may be a challenging task for the physician. Pancreatitis is an extremely rare presentation of miliary TB. A healthy 31-year-old American male was admitted because of severe nausea, anorexia, malaise and night sweat for 4 days. He was febrile and his physical examination was unremarkable. The chest X-ray (CXR) was normal and the computed tomographic (CT) evaluation of the abdomen was consistent with pancreatitis. On the 12th day in the hospital, he complained of dyspnea and his chest CT showed bilateral ground-glass opacities. Subsequent bronchoscopy was not diagnostic. Open lung biopsy (OLBx) revealed multiple necrotizing granulomas. The patient responded to antituberculous therapy and was discharged home 3 weeks later. Miliary TB is a curable disease, which can take many forms. A high index of clinical suspicion and diagnostic persistence are required for diagnosis. Early diagnosis and treatment of miliary TB nurtures better outcomes.