All Signs Point to Cancer: A Case of Cryptic Miliary Tuberculosis in the Setting of Concomitant Cancer

Dissemination of tuberculosis (TB) is known as miliary tuberculosis. When miliary tuberculosis lacks classic radiographic and clinical features, it can be labeled cryptic miliary tuberculosis and may mimic metastatic cancer. This unusual presentation of an already atypical form of TB often delays di...

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Main Authors: Victoria Cress, Sue Min Sophia Kwon, Michael T. Ulrich
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Infectious Diseases
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/4623086
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author Victoria Cress
Sue Min Sophia Kwon
Michael T. Ulrich
author_facet Victoria Cress
Sue Min Sophia Kwon
Michael T. Ulrich
author_sort Victoria Cress
collection DOAJ
description Dissemination of tuberculosis (TB) is known as miliary tuberculosis. When miliary tuberculosis lacks classic radiographic and clinical features, it can be labeled cryptic miliary tuberculosis and may mimic metastatic cancer. This unusual presentation of an already atypical form of TB often delays diagnosis. We present a case of a 58-year-old female who presented with presumed metastatic carcinoma, who was ultimately diagnosed with both primary breast cancer and disseminated TB. This case emphasizes the need for a high index of suspicion for miliary tuberculosis in patients with presumed or proven malignancy.
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spelling doaj-art-453bcefa6ade46a4917971e39e6cced32025-08-20T03:36:44ZengWileyCase Reports in Infectious Diseases2090-66252090-66332021-01-01202110.1155/2021/46230864623086All Signs Point to Cancer: A Case of Cryptic Miliary Tuberculosis in the Setting of Concomitant CancerVictoria Cress0Sue Min Sophia Kwon1Michael T. Ulrich2Loma Linda University School of Medicine, 11175 Campus Street Loma Linda, Loma Linda 92350, CA, USALoma Linda University Medical Center, Department of Medicine, 1234 Anderson Street Rm. 1503 Loma Linda, Loma Linda 92354, CA, USALoma Linda University Medical Center, Department of Medicine, 1234 Anderson Street Rm. 1503 Loma Linda, Loma Linda 92354, CA, USADissemination of tuberculosis (TB) is known as miliary tuberculosis. When miliary tuberculosis lacks classic radiographic and clinical features, it can be labeled cryptic miliary tuberculosis and may mimic metastatic cancer. This unusual presentation of an already atypical form of TB often delays diagnosis. We present a case of a 58-year-old female who presented with presumed metastatic carcinoma, who was ultimately diagnosed with both primary breast cancer and disseminated TB. This case emphasizes the need for a high index of suspicion for miliary tuberculosis in patients with presumed or proven malignancy.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/4623086
spellingShingle Victoria Cress
Sue Min Sophia Kwon
Michael T. Ulrich
All Signs Point to Cancer: A Case of Cryptic Miliary Tuberculosis in the Setting of Concomitant Cancer
Case Reports in Infectious Diseases
title All Signs Point to Cancer: A Case of Cryptic Miliary Tuberculosis in the Setting of Concomitant Cancer
title_full All Signs Point to Cancer: A Case of Cryptic Miliary Tuberculosis in the Setting of Concomitant Cancer
title_fullStr All Signs Point to Cancer: A Case of Cryptic Miliary Tuberculosis in the Setting of Concomitant Cancer
title_full_unstemmed All Signs Point to Cancer: A Case of Cryptic Miliary Tuberculosis in the Setting of Concomitant Cancer
title_short All Signs Point to Cancer: A Case of Cryptic Miliary Tuberculosis in the Setting of Concomitant Cancer
title_sort all signs point to cancer a case of cryptic miliary tuberculosis in the setting of concomitant cancer
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/4623086
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