Abdominal tuberculosis. A 10-year review.
Clinical experience with 125 patients with abdominal tuberculosis (46 of whom had intestinal tuberculosis, 8 mesenteric tuberculous lymphadenitis and 71 the peritoneal form) is presented. The diagnosis, especially in the intestinal cases, was seldom considered and a wide variety of conditions was simulated. Ileocaecal tuberculosis accounted for only 11 (24%) of the intestinal cases, while 17 patients (37%) had more distal involvement. A number of patients with diffuse colonic tuberculosis were seen. Chest radiographs showed that 51% of the 125 patients had active tuberculosis, but were completely normal in 38% of cases. Tuberculin skin testing was negative in 45% of cases. The pathogenesis, pathological features, diagnostic difficulties and complications are discussed, and the importance of considering the diagnosis is stressed.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D004378:Duodenal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007077:Ileal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D007421:Intestine, Small; D008297:Male; D008640:Mesenteric Lymphadenitis / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014395:Peritonitis, Tuberculous / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D013019:South Africa; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications; D014385:Tuberculosis, Gastrointestinal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology