Prostate Tuberculosis Masquerading as Prostate Carcinoma: A Rare Case Report

Genitourinary tuberculosis (GUTB), the second most frequent type of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in endemic regions, was initially described by Wildbolz in 1973. The prostate and epididymis are the first sites of male genital tuberculosis, followed by the seminal vesicles and the testicles. Here, we describe a case of a 65-year-old male who presented with obstructive lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) for the previous six weeks. The digital rectal examination revealed prostatic enlargement with a firm and nodular surface. A high prostate-specific antigen level (88 ng/ml) was found in serum analysis. There was a suspicion of prostate cancer on the basis of clinical, radiological, and serological examination. In view of the suspicion of carcinoma, a prostate biopsy was performed, which revealed the proliferation of prostatic glandular and stromal elements with interspersed granulomas, necrosis, and aggregates of mature lymphoid cells. The histopathology findings were indicative of benign prostatic hyperplasia with granulomatous prostatitis. Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) stain was negative for acid-fast bacilli. The cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test (CBNAAT) for Mycobacterium tuberculosis was ordered on the prostate biopsy tissue bits, which showed positive results. On the basis of histopathology and nucleic acid amplification test, the diagnosis of prostate tuberculosis was considered. There are no specific clinical and radiological findings related to prostate tuberculosis; hence, the diagnosis can be established only after histopathological examination and tissue-based cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test. Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion for tuberculosis, especially in patients from endemic countries who present with symptoms of the lower urinary tract, especially if there is granulomatous inflammation coupled with necrosis.