title: Colonic tuberculosis mimicking Crohn's disease: case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intestinal tuberculosis is a rare disease in western countries, affecting mainly immigrants and immunocompromised patients. Intestinal tuberculosis is a diagnostic challenge, especially when active pulmonary infection is absent. It may mimic many other abdominal diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Here, we report a case of isolated colonic tuberculosis where the initial diagnostic workup was suggestive of Crohn's disease. Computed tomography findings however, raised the possibility of colonic tuberculosis and the detection of acid-fast bacilli in biopsy specimens confirmed the diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, this case highlights the need for awareness of intestinal tuberculosis in the differential diagnosis of chronic intestinal disease
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Heraklion, Crete, Greece. matrix01gr@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chatzicostas
authors.forename: Ioannis E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Koutroubakis
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tzardi
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roussomoustakaki
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Prassopoulos
authors.forename: Elias A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Kouroumalis
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D014385:Tuberculosis, Gastrointestinal / Q000175:diagnosis*