Skip to main content
Journal of the National Medical Association logoLink to Journal of the National Medical Association
. 2006 Jul;98(7):1175–1176.

Tuberculous epididymitis presenting with Addison's disease: a rare case.

Zuhal Mujgan Guler 1, Asiye Kanbay 1, Mehmet Kanbay 1, Bulent Ciftci 1, Yurdanur Erdogan 1
PMCID: PMC2569482  PMID: 16895290

Abstract

This report describes a case of tuberculosis with an atypical presentation characterized by epididymitis and Addison's disease in the absence of lung involvement. A 54-year-old male who presented with acute right scrotal pain and a whitish discharge, had been diagnosed four months earlier with acute epididymitis and prescribed ciprofloxacin. The clinical diagnosis was epididymitis and Addison's disease. Hydrocortisone therapy was initiated, and bilateral epididymectomy was undertaken. Biopsy specimen showed the presence of acid-fast bacilli and antituberculous treatment was initiated. On follow-up, the patient was in good clinical condition and free of symptoms. We conclude that tuberculous epididymitis can cause serious complications and should be included in the differential diagnosis for chronic epididymitis of unknown cause that does not respond to routine treatment. A high index of suspicion is required for diagnosis.

Full text

PDF
1175

Images in this article

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Beacock C. J., Lynch T. H., Hughes M. A. Fatal tuberculous meningitis complicating tuberculous epididymitis. Br J Urol. 1991 Mar;67(3):328–329. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-410x.1991.tb15149.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Higashihara M., Nagata N., Takeuchi K., Ushio K. A case of tuberculous epididymitis associated with Addison's disease. Endocrinol Jpn. 1984 Feb;31(1):1–5. doi: 10.1507/endocrj1954.31.1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Neu H. C. Clinical use of the quinolones. Lancet. 1987 Dec 5;2(8571):1319–1322. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(87)91205-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Oben Felix T., Wright Renee D. E., Ahaghotu Chiledum A. Tuberculous epididymitis with extensive retroperitoneal and mediastinal involvement. Urology. 2004 Jul;64(1):156–158. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2004.03.014. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Shibl A. M. Effect of antibiotics on adherence of microorganisms to epithelial cell surfaces. Rev Infect Dis. 1985 Jan-Feb;7(1):51–65. doi: 10.1093/clinids/7.1.51. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Skoutelis A., Marangos M., Petsas T., Chionis I., Barbalias G., Bassaris H. Serious complications of tuberculous epididymitis. Infection. 2000 May-Jun;28(3):193–195. doi: 10.1007/s150100050080. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of the National Medical Association are provided here courtesy of National Medical Association

RESOURCES