Tuberculosis presenting as dysphagia in an immunocompetent patient: a case report

Extra-pulmonary tuberculosis can affect any part of the digestive system, including the esophagus. Esophageal involvement in tuberculosis is considered rare and its atypical manifestation can lead to delayed or misdiagnosis. Primary esophageal tuberculosis (ET) occurs when the esophagus is directly affected by tuberculosis while secondary ET arises from infiltration by surrounding structures. We report the case of a 44-year-old immunocompetent Tibetan patient who presented with dysphagia, in whom gastroscopy revealed a subepithelial lesion (SEL). The patient was diagnosed with secondary esophageal tuberculosis by tissue acquisition with endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and successfully treated with tuberculostatic drugs. Esophageal tuberculosis must be considered when a subepithelial lesion of the esophagus is found, especially in patients originating from endemic areas.