An unusual case of tubercular tubo-ovarian abscess in a sexually inactive female: a diagnostic dilemma

Monika A. Mahorkar; Prachi S. Pittalwar Meda; Mansi M. Shrigiriwar

doi:10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20253920

Authors

Monika A. Mahorkar Ketkar Maternity Hospital and Research Institute, Sitabuildi, Nagpur, India
Prachi S. Pittalwar Meda Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Government Medical College, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India 3MEDA Health Care Centre, Chandrapur, Maharashtra, India
Mansi M. Shrigiriwar Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Government Medical College, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20253920

Keywords:

Tubo-ovarian abscess, Genital tuberculosis, Sexually inactive, Adnexal mass, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Salpingitis

Abstract

Tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) is usually encountered in sexually active women as a complication of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Its occurrence in sexually inactive patients is extremely rare and suggests atypical etiologies, including genital tuberculosis (GTB). We report a rare case of a sexually naïve young woman with a giant TOA due to isolated ovarian tuberculosis. This case highlights the diagnostic dilemma when tuberculosis mimics adnexal malignancy or pyogenic abscess and underscores the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion, particularly in tuberculosis-endemic regions.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Sharma JB. Current diagnosis and management of female genital tuberculosis. J Obstet Gynaecol India. 2015;65(6):362-71. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13224-015-0780-z

Grace GA, Devaleenal DB, Natrajan M. Genital tuberculosis in females. Indian J Med Res. 2017;145(4):425-36. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_1550_15

Sharma JB, Roy KK, Gupta N. Genital tuberculosis: an important cause of Asherman’s syndrome in India. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2008;277(1):37-41. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-007-0419-0

Namavar Jahromi B, Parsanezhad ME, Ghane-Shirazi R. Female genital tuberculosis and infertility. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2001;75(3):269-72. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0020-7292(01)00494-5

Kulchavenya E, Dubrovina S. Typical and unusual cases of female genital tuberculosis. IDCases. 2014;1(4):92-4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idcr.2014.10.001

Akhan SE, Soysal ME, Soysal SK. The value of CA-125 in the differential diagnosis of tuberculous peritonitis and peritoneal carcinomatosis. Eur J Gynaecol Oncol. 1993;14(5):350-3.

Chen YM, Yang WK, Whang-Peng J, et al. Peritoneal tuberculosis and peritoneal carcinomatosis: differentiation by CA-125, cytology, and laparoscopy. Br J Surg. 1989;76(11):1183-4.

Ravikumar A, Natarajan U. Unusual presentation of tubo-ovarian abscess in a non-sexually active adolescent girl. Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol. 2025;14(1):284-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20243971

Ashrafganjooei T, Harirchi I, Iravanlo G. Tubo-ovarian abscess in a virgin girl. Iran J Reprod Med. 2011;9(3):247-50.

Tripathy SN, Tripathy SN. Genital tuberculosis – an important cause of infertility in women. Trop Doct. 2002;32(2):91-4.