Large Abdominal Mass Revealing a Tuberculous Mesenteric Cyst: A Case Report

Mesenteric cyst is a benign intra-abdominal tumor, most often discovered incidentally. Its association with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection is rare and may lead to diagnostic difficulties due to a polymorphic clinical presentation. Objective: Todescribe the diagnostic, therapeutic, and outcomeaspects of mesenteric cyst complicated by tuberculosis. Case report: A 31-year-old patient was hospitalized for the management of a large abdominal mass. The diagnosis of tuberculous mesenteric cyst was confirmed by histopathological examination of the cystectomy specimen. Antituberculous treatment including rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol was initiated, resultingin marked clinical and radiological improvement. Conclusion: Tuberculous mesenteric cyst is a rare entity with a non-specific clinical presentation, making diagnosischallenging. Laparoscopy with biopsy allowsconfirmation of the diagnosis, and management is based on cystectomy combined with antituberculous therapy.