Unmasking the Culprit: Successful Restoration of Menstrual Function in a Case of Secondary Amenorrhea Due to Tuberculous Endometritis Mimicking Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37275/bsm.v9i9.1390Keywords:
Diagnostic overshadowing, Genital tuberculosis, Polycystic ovary syndrome, Secondary amenorrhea, Tuberculous endometritisAbstract
Background: Secondary amenorrhea presents a significant diagnostic challenge in gynecology. While Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause, rare etiologies like tuberculous endometritis can be overlooked, especially in patients with features suggestive of PCOS. This phenomenon, known as diagnostic overshadowing, can lead to delayed diagnosis and irreversible reproductive consequences.
Case presentation: A 35-year-old nulligravid woman with a diagnosis of Class I Obesity presented with a five-year history of secondary amenorrhea and a desire for fertility. Her clinical and initial ultrasonographic findings were suggestive of PCOS. However, persistent amenorrhea despite hormonal therapy prompted further investigation. Hysteroscopy revealed a fibrotic uterine cavity with micropolyps, and subsequent endometrial biopsy with histopathology, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and culture confirmed a diagnosis of tuberculous endometritis. The patient was successfully treated with a six-month anti-tuberculosis regimen, cyclical progestin therapy, and a structured lifestyle modification program. Following treatment, she experienced a significant weight loss, resumption of regular menstrual cycles, and marked improvement in endometrial and ovarian ultrasound parameters.
Conclusion: This case underscores the critical importance of a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation for secondary amenorrhea, including endometrial sampling, even when a common diagnosis like PCOS is suspected. It highlights the potential for tuberculous endometritis to mimic PCOS and demonstrates the efficacy of a multidisciplinary approach in restoring menstrual and potentially reproductive function. Clinicians in tuberculosis-endemic regions must maintain a high index of suspicion for this insidious pathology to prevent long-term morbidity.
Authors
- Riyan Hari Kurniawan1*
- Muhammad Syauqi Mirza1
- Ilham Utama Surya1
- Muhammad Dwi Priangga1
- Cepi Teguh Pramayadi1
- Herbert Situmorang1
- Eka Rusdianto Gunardi1
- 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia/Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo National General Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia
Corresponding author Riyan Hari Kurniawan — riyanharikurniawan@yahoo.com
Article history
- Submitted
- Accepted
- Published
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright and licensing
Copyright in each article remains with the author(s). Authors grant Bioscientia Medicina: Journal of Biomedicine and Translational Research a non-exclusive right of first publication and the right to identify itself as the original publisher. No exclusive transfer of copyright is required.
All articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0): https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/. Users may copy, redistribute, remix, transform, and build upon the material for non-commercial purposes, provided appropriate attribution is given, a link to the license is supplied, changes are indicated, and adaptations are distributed under the same license.
The license applies to the article's scholarly content unless a credit line states otherwise. Third-party material may be subject to separate rights. Authors retain patent, trademark, moral, and research-data rights. The copyright year follows the article's publication date.
