Pancreatic tuberculosis mimicking pancreatic malignancy in a young male: a rare case report

Background Isolated pancreatic tuberculosis is a rare form of extrapulmonary TB, often misdiagnosed as malignancy due to overlapping clinical and radiological features. Case presentation We report a case of a 24-year-old male presenting with right hypochondrial pain, jaundice and weight loss. A mass was found in the head of pancreas raising strong suspicion for pancreatic cancer. Endoscopic ultrasound guided biopsy was done and histopathology of the tissue revealed caseating granulomas, and GeneXpert revealed Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The patient responded well to anti-tuberculous therapy, with clinical and radiological improvement. Conclusion This case underscores the importance of considering tuberculosis in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic masses, especially in endemic regions. Clinical trial number Not applicable.