title: Abdominal tuberculosis of the gastrointestinal tract: revisited.
abstract: Abdominal tuberculosis is an increasingly common disease that poses diagnostic challenge, as the nonspecific features of the disease which may lead to diagnostic delays and development of complications. This condition is regarded as a great mimicker of other abdominal pathology. A high index of suspicion is an important factor in early diagnosis. Abdominal involvement may occur in the gastrointestinal tract, peritoneum, lymphnodes or solid viscera. Various investigative methods have been used to aid in the diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis. Early diagnosis and initiation of antituberculous therapy and surgical treatment are essential to prevent morbidity and mortality. Most of the patients respond very well to standard antitubercular therapy and surgery is required only in a minority of cases. Imaging plays an important role in diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis because early recognition of this condition is important. We reviewed our experience with the findings on various imaging modalities for diagnosis of this potentially treatable disease.
authors.affiliation: Uma Debi, Division of GE Radiology, Department of Superspeciality of Gastroenterology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160 012, India.
authors.forename: Uma
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Debi
authors.affiliation: Uma Debi, Division of GE Radiology, Department of Superspeciality of Gastroenterology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160 012, India.
authors.forename: Vasudevan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ravisankar
authors.affiliation: Uma Debi, Division of GE Radiology, Department of Superspeciality of Gastroenterology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160 012, India.
authors.forename: Kaushal Kishor
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.affiliation: Uma Debi, Division of GE Radiology, Department of Superspeciality of Gastroenterology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160 012, India.
authors.forename: Saroj Kant
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Sinha
authors.affiliation: Uma Debi, Division of GE Radiology, Department of Superspeciality of Gastroenterology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160 012, India.
authors.forename: Arun Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014385:Tuberculosis, Gastrointestinal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents
keywords: Abdomen; Extrapulmonary; Gastrointestinal tract; Tuberculosis