title: Diagnosis of tuberculous peritonitis.
abstract: The diagnosis of tuberculous peritonitis may be difficult and elusive. The patient may present with non-specific symptoms of fever, general ill-health or vague abdominal pains. There may be no pulmonary symptoms and the chest X-ray may be normal. The CT scan of the abdomen is sometimes helpful in suggesting the diagnosis. We have found that laparoscopic examination of the abdominal contents and the peritoneum is an effective way to obtain a conclusive diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Alexandra Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rajasoorya
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Mah
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis; D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005334:Fever / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014395:Peritonitis, Tuberculous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents