Disseminated tuberculosis in an immunocompetent patient

Abstract

Miliary tuberculosis refers to the clinical disease resulting from the hematogenous dissemination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. A tuberculous aneurysm of the aorta is exceedingly rare. Contiguous tuberculosis in the form of lymphadenitis is generally responsible for the aortic involvement. We report a case of tuberculous mycotic aneurysm in patient with miliary disease, not affected by a cellular immunodeficiency and with no other common risk factor for infection. He received anti-tubercular therapy and endovascular stenting before the identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in lung, lymph nodes, and gastric lavage. The clinician should be aware that a mycotic abdominal aortic aneurysm could be caused by M. tuberculosis, even if microbiological confirmation is lacking or is negative, especially if a contiguous focus of tubercular infection is detected.

Keywords: Miliary tuberculosis; Mycotic abdominal aneurysm; Tubercular abdominal aortic aneurysm.