title: [A clinical analysis of 57 cases of abdominal tuberculosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the clinical characteristics and diagnosis methods of abdominal tuberculosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical characteristics of abdominal tuberculosis in 57 cases proved by histopathology between 1958-2004 were retrospectively analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 39 cases of tuberculosis of the liver, 5 cases of the spleen, 8 cases of the pancreas, 3 cases of the stomach, 1 case involved both liver and spleen and 1 case involved both liver and stomach. Twenty-six patients were males and 31 female; with ages ranged from 17 to 68 years (mean 40.7 years) and most cases (71.9%) having extra-abdominal tuberculosis. Fever (75.4%), fatigue, anorexia, night sweating, weight loss (82.5%) and hepatosplenomegaly (57.9%) were the major clinical manifestations. Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (59.6%) and abdominal mass (64.9%) were found in most of the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis should be considered in all patients with fever of unknown origin, especially in those associated with hepatosplenomegaly, increased ESR and abdominal mass. Aspiration biopsy and laparotomy can provide correct diagnosis. The disease can be effectively treated with surgical intervention and antituberculous chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing 100730, China. geying1998@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: Rui-yuan
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: Guo-hua
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Xiao-qing
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ai-xia
authors.initials: AX
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014385:Tuberculosis, Gastrointestinal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D014386:Tuberculosis, Hepatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D014400:Tuberculosis, Splenic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology