Abstract
BackgroundIntestinal 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.Case presentationHere, 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.ConclusionsIn conclusion, this case highlights the need for awareness of intestinal tuberculosis in the differential diagnosis of chronic intestinal disease
Highlights
Intestinal tuberculosis is a rare disease in western countries, affecting mainly immigrants and immunocompromised patients
Several cases of intestinal TB have so far been described [1,2,3,4,5,9] including a few reports of intestinal TB mimicking Crohn's disease (CD) [10,11]
In this report we present a case of isolated colonic TB in which the initial diagnostic workup suggested CD
Summary
Intestinal tuberculosis (TB) is rarely seen in western countries, affecting mainly immigrants and immunocompromised patients [1,2,3,4,5]. In this report we present a case of isolated colonic TB in which the initial diagnostic workup suggested CD. It highlights the need for awareness of intestinal TB in the differential diagnosis of chronic intestinal disease. There was no family history of inflammatory bowel disease or colon cancer His past medical history included a diagnosis of hypothyoidism under treatment with thyroxine 100 mcg/d, and an episode of haemoptysis five years ago attributed to bronchiectasis. The patient had no past history of TB and was not aware of any TB exposure He had been drinking alcohol (50–60 g/d) for 25 years, but stopped drinking five years ago. Six months after diagnosis, the patient is free of symptoms and is continuing the anti-tuberculous treatment
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