TY - JOUR
T1 - Diagnostic dilemma of abdominal tuberculosis in non-HIV patients
T2 - An ongoing challenge for physicians
AU - Khan, Rustam
AU - Abid, Shahab
AU - Jafri, Wasim
AU - Abbas, Zaigham
AU - Hameed, Khalid
AU - Ahmad, Zubair
PY - 2006/10/21
Y1 - 2006/10/21
N2 - Aim: To assess the clinical features, yield of the diagnostic tests and outcome of abdominal tuberculosis in non-HIV patients. Methods: Adult patients with discharge diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis (based upon; positive microbiology, histo-pathology, imaging or response to trial of anti TB drugs) during the period 1999 to 2004 were analyzed. Patient's characteristics, laboratory investigations, radiological, endoscopic and surgical findings were evaluated. Abdominal site involved (intestinal, peritoneal, visceral, and nodal) and response to treatment was also noted. Results: There were 209 patients enrolled. One hundred and twenty-three (59%) were females. Symptoms were abdominal pain 194 (93%), fever 134 (64%), night sweats 99 (48%), weight loss 98 (47%), vomiting 75 (36%), ascites 74 (35%), constipation 64 (31%), and diarrhea 25 (12%). Sub-acute and acute intestinal obstruction was seen in 28 (13%) and 12 (11%) respectively. Radiological evidence of pulmonary tuberculosis was found in 134 (64%) patients. Basis of diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis were radiology (Chest and barium X-Rays, Ultrasound and CT scan abdomen) in 111 (53%) and histo-pathology (tissue obtained during surgery, colonoscopy, CT or ultrasound guided biopsy, laparoscopy and upper gastro intestinal endoscopy) in 87 (42%) patients. Mycobacterium culture was positive in 6/87 (7%) patients and response to therapeutic trial of anti tubercular drugs was the basis of diagnosis in 5 (2.3%) patients. Predominant site of involvement by abdominal TB was intestinal in 103 (49%) patients, peritoneal in 87 (42%) patients, solid viscera in 10 (5%) and nodal in 9 (4%) patients. Response to medical treatment was found in 158 (76%) patients and additionally 35 (17%) patients also underwent surgery. In a 425± 120 d follow-up period 12 patients died (eight post operative) and no case of relapse was noted. Conclusion: Abdominal TB has diverse and non-specific symptomatology. No singletest is adequate for diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis in all patients. Abdominal TB in non-HIV patients remains an ongoing diagnostic dilemma requiring a high index of clinical suspicion.
AB - Aim: To assess the clinical features, yield of the diagnostic tests and outcome of abdominal tuberculosis in non-HIV patients. Methods: Adult patients with discharge diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis (based upon; positive microbiology, histo-pathology, imaging or response to trial of anti TB drugs) during the period 1999 to 2004 were analyzed. Patient's characteristics, laboratory investigations, radiological, endoscopic and surgical findings were evaluated. Abdominal site involved (intestinal, peritoneal, visceral, and nodal) and response to treatment was also noted. Results: There were 209 patients enrolled. One hundred and twenty-three (59%) were females. Symptoms were abdominal pain 194 (93%), fever 134 (64%), night sweats 99 (48%), weight loss 98 (47%), vomiting 75 (36%), ascites 74 (35%), constipation 64 (31%), and diarrhea 25 (12%). Sub-acute and acute intestinal obstruction was seen in 28 (13%) and 12 (11%) respectively. Radiological evidence of pulmonary tuberculosis was found in 134 (64%) patients. Basis of diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis were radiology (Chest and barium X-Rays, Ultrasound and CT scan abdomen) in 111 (53%) and histo-pathology (tissue obtained during surgery, colonoscopy, CT or ultrasound guided biopsy, laparoscopy and upper gastro intestinal endoscopy) in 87 (42%) patients. Mycobacterium culture was positive in 6/87 (7%) patients and response to therapeutic trial of anti tubercular drugs was the basis of diagnosis in 5 (2.3%) patients. Predominant site of involvement by abdominal TB was intestinal in 103 (49%) patients, peritoneal in 87 (42%) patients, solid viscera in 10 (5%) and nodal in 9 (4%) patients. Response to medical treatment was found in 158 (76%) patients and additionally 35 (17%) patients also underwent surgery. In a 425± 120 d follow-up period 12 patients died (eight post operative) and no case of relapse was noted. Conclusion: Abdominal TB has diverse and non-specific symptomatology. No singletest is adequate for diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis in all patients. Abdominal TB in non-HIV patients remains an ongoing diagnostic dilemma requiring a high index of clinical suspicion.
KW - Abdominal tuberculosis
KW - Diagnosis and abdominal tuberculosis
KW - Gastrointestinal tuberculosis
KW - Tuberculosis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33750829995&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3748/wjg.v12.i39.6371
DO - 10.3748/wjg.v12.i39.6371
M3 - Article
C2 - 17072964
AN - SCOPUS:33750829995
SN - 1007-9327
VL - 12
SP - 6371
EP - 6375
JO - World Journal of Gastroenterology
JF - World Journal of Gastroenterology
IS - 39
ER -