# Incidental found tuberculous peritonitis during hernioplasty

## TL;DR

A 71-year-old man had tuberculous peritonitis discovered during hernia surgery, highlighting a rare presentation of abdominal TB.

## Contribution

The paper presents a rare case of abdominal TB manifesting as a hernia and reviews ten similar cases for clinical insights.

## Key findings

- Incidental TB diagnosis occurred during hernioplasty due to ascitic fluid and peritoneal nodules.
- Abdominal TB is uncommonly associated with hernias, requiring careful surgical and diagnostic evaluation.
- The case emphasizes the importance of considering TB in differential diagnoses during hernia surgeries.

## Abstract

We report the case of a 71-year-old male with palpable and painful left inguinal mass who underwent open hernioplasty. During the operation, ~700 ml of ascitic fluid and multiple nodules on the peritoneum were observed upon incision of the hernia sac. Culture and pathological examination confirmed a diagnosis of peritoneal tuberculosis (TB). Abdominal TB is rarely presented as a hernia. We review ten cases of abdominal TB associated with abdominal hernias and discuss surgical techniques and further management options.