Tuberculosis as a Trigger of Retroperitoneal Fibrosis

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Abstract
Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) is characterized by the replacement of normal retroperitoneal tissue with fibrous tissue and/or chronic inflammation [1, 2]. RPF appears as a dense, fibrous plaque that usually surrounds the lower abdominal aorta and the common iliac arteries and may envelop the adjacent structures (e.g., the ureters and the inferior vena cava) [1]. It is usually idiopathic but may also be secondary to infections, malignancies, and drug therapy [1] or associated with systemic autoimmune diseases [3]. The idiopathic form of RPF may be limited to the retroperitoneum or involve other sites (e.g., the retro-orbital space or the mediastinum) [2].