Abstract

Objective: Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) can be easily missed due to challenges in diagnosis or overlooked in the differential diagnosis. Therefore, EPTB should be considered in endemic regions, especially in the differential diagnosis of fever of unknown origin.

Methods: Adult patients diagnosed and treated for EPTB at Ondokuz Mayıs University School of Medicine Hospital between 2005 and 2018 were analyzed retrospectively.

Results: One hundred and nineteen patients with a mean age of 48.4±17.8 years, including 75 (63%) females and 44 (37%) males, were included in the study. The mean age of female patients was 51.8±16.7, and the mean age of male patients was 42.6±18.4. Female patients were significantly older than male patients (p<0.05). Urban and rural residency rates were 45.4 and 40%, respectively. EPTB involved lymph nodes in 60 (50.4%), the central nervous system in 15 (12.6%), the vertebral column in 14 (11.8%), bone in 7 (5.9%), the urogenital system in 7 (5.9%), peritoneum in 6 (5%), the gastrointestinal system in 6 (5%), pleura in 3 (2.5%) and eye in 1 (0.8%) patient. Acid-fast bacilli were seen in 4 (8.1%) of 49 samples; Mycobacterium tuberculosis grew in cultures of 29 (48.3%) of 60 samples; and the polymerase chain reaction was positive for tuberculosis in 24 (52%) of 46 samples. In the histopathologic examination, caseous granulomatous inflammation was the most reported finding (41.2%). The most common adverse event related to antituberculosis drugs was hepatotoxicity.

Conclusion: EPTB can involve various organ systems and should be included in the differential diagnosis.