PERITONEAL TUBERCULOSIS WITH ELEVATION OF THE CA-125

A 78-year-old patient with a history of breast cancer developed ascite s with elevated serum CA 125 levels (1260 IU/ml), Exploratory laparoto my found lesions suggestive of peritoneal carcinomatosis, However, no ovarian tumor was found. Histologic studies showed no evidence of mali gnant disease but disclosed epithelioid and giant cell follicles with caseous necrosis typical of tuberculosis, Tests for the mycobacterium tuberculosis were negative. The clinical outcome was favorable under i soniazide, rifampin, and ethambutol, Serum CA 125 levels declined to a normal level (29 IU/ml) over a two-year period.