Reappraisal of abdominal tuberculosis
Wadhwa, N.; Agarwal, S.; Mishra, K.
Journal of the Indian Medical Association 102(1): 31-32
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5847 PMID: 15195856 Document Number: 570753
Tuberculosis, including abdominal tuberculosis, is a common disease responsible for considerable mortality and morbidity. The diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis requires a high index of suspicion due to its vague symptomatology. This retrospective study (of 3 years duration) was conducted on 84 operated cases in whom a diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis (excluding genitourinary) was made on histopathology. These specimens, which constituted 5.4% of all the surgical materials related to the gastrointestinal tract, were received in the Department of Pathology, University College of Medical Sciences, in New Delhi, India, during January 1995-December 1997. The mean age of the patients was 23.5 years, with the youngest patient being only 7 months old. No sex predilection was noted (41 males, 43 females). Eighteen patients (21.4%) belonged to the paediatric age group (0-15 years). Majority of the patients (92.8%) presented with features of intestinal obstruction. Sixteen patients were already receiving antituberculous treatment. Terminal ileum (49 cases) was the most common site of involvement followed by the appendix (9), jejunum (5), anal canal (4), caecum (3) and colon (2). One case of duodenal tuberculosis was also confirmed. The important features noted in this study were high paediatric patient involvement (21.4%), significantly higher incidence of intestinal perforation (69%), and rarity of gastroduodenal tuberculosis (1.2%). Concomitant infections like typhoid and worm infestations were also seen.