INTRODUCTION:

Tuberculosis remains a global public health problem: about a quarter of the world's population is infected with the tuberculosis bacillus, but only 5-15% will actually develop the disease. Despite efforts to control the infection, today it is the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent. The extrapulmonary form is rare, and the genital form usually manifests with sterility, in others it simulates advanced ovarian cancer, including adnexal mass and ascites, weight loss and elevation of the tumor marker Ca125. The pre-surgical differential diagnosis is complex, hence most patients are indicated for unnecessary surgery.

CLINICAL CASE:

A 29-year-old patient with a diagnosis of adnexal formation suspicious for malignancy was treated conservatively until complete regression was achieved. In addition, a review of the existing literature related to this rare entity was performed.

CONCLUSION:

The conjunction of ascites, pelvic mass and elevated Ca125 marker may correspond to the diagnosis of advanced ovarian cancer, without forgetting the possibility of extraperitoneal tuberculosis in patients with a history of tuberculosis or from endemic areas. Diagnosis is complex, especially due to the low incidence in our environment, which often requires exploratory laparoscopy to confirm the origin of the lesions.