Esophageal brucellosis? Straight to the goat.

• Brucellosis can be misdiagnosed in the case of upper gastrointestinal symptoms • Blood cultures are essential in the case of fever in the returning traveler • Six-week oral doxycycline therapy with gentamicin is an appropriate first-line regimen We report the case of a 58-year-old immunocompetent man from Algeria, who presented to the hospital with fever and hepatic cytolysis. Abdominal computed tomography scan showed a homogeneous splenomegaly and a hypodense 12-mm mass on the posterior wall of the esophagus. After ruling out tuberculosis, the patient was diagnosed with brucellosis. Patient was cured after receiving 6 weeks of oral doxycycline and intravenous gentamicin during the 7 first days of therapy. Such treatment was considered as an acceptable alternative of the recommended first-line therapy. This case illustrates the diagnostic issues in the context of an authentic brucellosis presenting as upper gastrointestinal symptoms, with impaired general condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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