Acute hepatobiliary tuberculosis: a report of two cases and a review of the literature

Two cases of hepatobiliary tuberculosis are described. Case one, the macron odular type of hepatic tuberculosis, presented as pyrexia of unknown origin and was eventually diagnosed by sectional imaging when a mass lesion devel oped in the liver and aspiration revealed acid-fast bacilli. Case two prese nted with jaundice due to a hilar bile duct stricture. The patient was succ essfully treated by repeated bile duct stenting and later chemotherapy for tuberculosis. In both cases previous positive histology or culture would ha ve expedited diagnosis and treatment. Acute hepatobiliary tuberculosis rema ins a rare disease. Suspicion of the disease and adequate biopsy are import ant to allow prompt appropriate treatment.