Diagnosis Of Intestinal Tuberculosis Research Articles

An Incidental Finding of Primary Colonic Tuberculosis Disguising Itself as Colon Cancer

Abstract Intestinal tuberculosis (TB) is common among the extrapulmonary spectrum of TB seen in developing countries, with the ileocecal region being the most common site involved. Isolated colonic TB is rare among intestinal TB. The usual presentation of intestinal TB is transverse ulceration, which should be differentiated from other causes of intestinal ulcers. The diagnosis of isolated colonic TB is challenging due to a lack of typical clinical presentations and nonspecific colonoscopy findings. There are myriad histomorphological features seen in the intestinal tuberculosis, including epithelioid cell granulomas with or without necrosis and extensive fibrosis with stricture formation and sometimes only show dense mixed inflammatory cells comprising polymorphs and histiocytes. It can also be presented as spindle cell pseudotumors. The acid-fast bacilli in biopsy specimens are not frequently encountered. Hence, the diagnosis of intestinal TB is missed most of the time in the early stages, and the patient lands up in an emergency. Here, we would like to add another case of colonic TB to the literature, wherein a 60-year-old female who was asymptomatic for 1 month suddenly presented with acute symptoms of intestinal obstruction and was misdiagnosed clinically as well as radiologically as colonic carcinoma. The diagnosis of tubercular colitis was later confirmed on histopathological examination of the hemicolectomy specimen.

Sebuah Kasus : Laki-Laki 17 Tahun dengan Tuberkulosis Intestinal

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is a TB infection that attacks organs other than the lungs such as the pleura, lymph nodes, gastrointestinal tract, genitourinary tract, skin, bones, joints and lining of the brain. Patients with extrapulmonary TB often present with symptoms and signs related to the site of involvement. Systemic symptoms (such as weight loss, fever, hyperhidrosis, dyspnea, malaise) are usually present, although not always present. In clinical practice, it is not uncommon for extra pulmonary TB in an unclear location to be detected incidentally. The diagnosis of Intestinal TB is sometimes difficult to make and is only known after the disease. Therefore, some experts recommend empiric OAT therapy even though a definite diagnosis has not yet been established. This is done mainly in patients from endemic areas. This case report presents a 17 year old male with complaints of abdominal pain. Complaints accompanied by decreased appetite and drastic weight loss. The patient underwent a number of therapies in the form of drugs and surgery. The patient's condition improved after treatment and he was able to go home provided he had to be checked again periodically.

Clinical characteristics and diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis in clinical practice at Thailand's largest national tertiary referral center: An 11-year retrospective review.

Diagnosing intestinal tuberculosis (ITB) is challenging due to the low diagnostic sensitivity of current methods. This study aimed to assess the clinical characteristics and diagnosis of ITB at our tertiary referral center, and to explore improved methods of ITB diagnosis. This retrospective study included 177 patients diagnosed with ITB at Siriraj Hospital (Bangkok, Thailand) during 2009-2020. The mean age was 49 years, 55.4% were male, and 42.9% were immunocompromised. Most diagnoses (108/177) were made via colonoscopy; 12 patients required more than one colonoscopy. Among those, the sensitivity of tissue acid-fast bacilli (AFB), presence of caseous necrosis, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and culture was 40.7%, 13.9%, 25.7%, and 53.4%, respectively. Among patients with negative tissue histopathology, 4 (3.7%) and 13 (12.0%) were ITB positive on tissue PCR and culture, respectively. The overall sensitivity when all diagnostic methods were used was 63%. Seventy-six patients had stool tests for mycobacteria. The overall sensitivity of stool tests was 75.0%. However, when analyzing the 31 patients who underwent both endoscopy and stool testing, the sensitivity of stool testing when using tissue biopsy as a reference was 45.8%. Combining stool testing and tissue biopsy did not significantly increase the sensitivity compared to tissue biopsy alone (83.9% vs. 77.4%, respectively). Despite the availability of PCR and culture for TB, the overall diagnostic sensitivity was found to be low. The sensitivity increased when the tests were used in combination. Repeated colonoscopy may be beneficial. Adding stool mycobacteria tests did not significantly increase the diagnostic yield if endoscopy was performed, but it could be beneficial if endoscopy is unfeasible.

Intestinal tuberculosis can masquerade as Crohn’s disease: A teachable moment

Intestinal tuberculosis and Crohn’s disease are chronic granulomatous diseases with similar clinical presentations and can mimic one another. Their treatment modalities are completely different; however, sometimes it is challenging to differentiate them. We report a case of a 51-year-old female presenting with abdominal pain and on-and-off diarrhea for 4 years with weight loss. Clinical symptoms along with multiple aphthous ulcers in the terminal ileum and negative tuberculin test favored the diagnosis of Crohn’s disease. The patient did not respond to steroids. A repeat colonoscopy with acid-fast bacilli stain showed Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This case highlights that acid-fast bacilli culture and tuberculosis polymerase chain reaction to confirm or rule out the diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis in all patients suspected of Crohn’s disease.

Diagnostic predicaments in a case of Intestinal obstruction with strictures to distinguish intestinal Koch’s and Crohn’s disease

Intestinal Tuberculosis (Koch’s) has become a very common disease which pose a great diagnostic challenge because of its non- specific presentation and broad-spectrum features and lead to delays in diagnosis along with developments of complications. This 70 years old female patient presented with intestinal obstruction with multiple strictures. It was very tough to distinguish Tuberculosis from Crohn’s Disease in this case as the sections for histology were continuously negative for Acid fast bacilli. This case demonstrates the diagnostic predicaments encountered to arrive at a diagnosis of Intestinal Tuberculosis.

Difficulties in the differential diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis and Crohn‘s disease

The differential diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis and Crohn’s disease is a difficult task for most specialists due to their high similarity in clinical manifestations, instrumental diagnosis and histological pattern.The aim: to consider the clinical and diagnostic features of intestinal tuberculosis and Crohn’s disease, to show the role of various methods of their diagnosis (CT of the abdominal cavity, CT-enterography, colonoscopy with biopsy).A clinical example shows a case illustrating the difficulties of diagnosing intestinal tuberculosis, initially diagnosed as Crohn’s disease. The features of the course, complex diagnosis and treatment of intestinal tuberculosis and its complications during immunosuppression are demonstrated. At the first stage of treatment, the patient’s data related to CT of the chest organs, colonoscopy and histological examination of biopsy samples were incorrectly interpreted. As a result, a wrong diagnosis of Crohn’s disease was made, and immunosuppressive therapy was prescribed that provoked a generalization of the existing tuberculosis process. Subsequently, repeated surgical interventions were performed for complications of intestinal tuberculosis – perforation of tuberculous ulcers, peritonitis. Based on the analysis of the literature data and our own observation, it is shown that granulomatous inflammation in the study of intestinal biopsies doesn’t always allow us to make a clear diagnosis, first of all, there are intestinal tuberculosis and Crohn’s disease in the differential diagnostic series. The use of histobacterioscopy according to Ziehl – Neelsen, the study of fecal matter by luminescent microscopy, as well as molecular genetic methods for detecting DNA MTB allow us to verify the diagnosis. If Crohn’s disease is misdiagnosed as intestinal tuberculosis, then the prescribed anti-tuberculosis therapy can cause harm and lead to a delay in the underlying disease treatment. The reverse misdiagnosis is potentially more dangerous: if tuberculosis is misdiagnosed as Crohn’s disease, then the appointment of immunosuppressive therapy can lead to the generalization of tuberculosis and the development of fatal complications.

Value of Fecal Calprotectin Measurement During the Initial Period of Therapeutic Anti-Tubercular Trial.

Background/AimsThe diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis (ITB) is often challenging. Therapeutic anti-tubercular trial (TATT) is sometimes used for the diagnosis of ITB. We aimed to evaluate the changing pattern of fecal calprotectin (FC) levels during TATT in patients with ITB. MethodsA retrospective review was performed on the data of 39 patients who underwent TATT between September 2015 and November 2018 in five university hospitals in Daegu, South Korea. The analysis was performed for 33 patients with serial FC measurement reports. ResultsThe mean age of the participants was 48.8 years. The final diagnosis of ITB was confirmed in 30 patients based on complete mucosal healing on follow-up colonoscopy performed after 2 months of TATT. Before starting TATT, the mean FC level of the ITB patients was 170.2 μg/g (range, 11.5-646.5). It dropped to 25.4 μg/g (range, 11.5-75.3) and then 23.3 μg/g (range, 11.5-172.2) after one and two months of TATT, respectively. The difference in mean FC before and one month after TATT was statistically significant (p<0.001), and FC levels decreased to below 100 μg/g in all patients after one month of TATT. ConclusionsAll ITB patients showed FC decline after only 1 month of TATT, and this finding correlated with complete mucosal healing in the follow-up colonoscopy after 2 months of TATT.

A Rare Case of Pneumoperitoneum in Pregnancy: Perforation of Tubercular ileal Ulcer

The incidence of tuberculosis (TB) is rising worldwide, despite the efficacy of the BCG vaccination. Populations at greatest risk of contracting TB are migrant communities, as well as immunocompromised individuals. The diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis can often present as a diagnostic conundrum, due to its nonspecific and varied presentation, often mimicking inflammatory bowel disease or malignancy. Free perforation is one of the most feared complications of the intestinal tuberculosis. The terminal ileum is the most common site of perforation, while the majority of (90%) perforations are solitary. We present a 25 year old 17 weeks primi presented with peritonitis with solitary perforation of terminal ileum with miscarriage of fetus and subsequent surgical wedge resection of ileum and ileo-ileal anastomosis. Histology revealed presence of Langerhan’s cell with caseating granulomatous inflammation. There was no radiological evidence of pulmonary tuberculosis. Patient was started on anti-tubercular therapy and responded well. This present case underscores the importance of biopsy specimens taken from the margins of patients with ileal perforation to avoid the misdiagnosis of such condition.

EP.FRI.56 Spectrum of Clinical Presentation, Radiological Findings and Management of Tuberculosis on the Surgical Floor - An Experience from a Tertiary Care Hospital in Pakistan

Abstract Aim Abdominal tuberculosis has varied presentation and can be confused with other conditions. The aim of the study is to assess and evaluate various clinical presentations and management of intestinal tuberculosis presenting to our tertiary care hospital. Methods This 3-year descriptive study was conducted on patients with diagnosed intestinal tuberculosis (by histopathology) in Surgical Unit-II, from Jan 2017 to Jan 2020. Detailed history and clinical examination were performed in all the cases. Investigations like Blood CP and ESR, Albumin, Ultrasound abdomen, X-Ray abdomen were carried out in all the cases. Preoperative assessment of anatomical site and variety of lesions were also noted. Per-operative findings and procedure performed was recorded. Results A total of 85 patients with diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis were admitted and operated. Diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology. Among these, 35 (40.7%) were male, and 50 (59.3%) were female. Variable clinical presentations were seen. Majority of patients 76(89.3%) had abdominal pain 55 (64.8%) had vomiting. Most common per-op findings included strictures 42 (50%), intestinal perforation 35 (40.7%) and multiples tubercles in abdomen 24 (28.7%). Most common procedures performed were ileostomy 45 (52.8%) and right hemicolectomy 28 (33.3%). X ray and Ultrasound findings were positive in 79(91.6%) and 67 (79.6%) cases only respectively. Conclusion High clinical suspicion is required for diagnosis of TB. Intestinal perforation, and strictures were the commonest lesions. Definitive surgical procedure like ilecolostomy and right hemicolectomy are the main surgical options.

A Rare case of pneumoperitoneum in pregnancy: Perforation of Tubercular ileal Ulcer

The incidence of Tuberculosis (TB) is rising worldwide, despite the efficacy of the BCG vaccination. Populations at greatest risk of contracting TB are migrant communities, as well as immunocompromised individuals. The diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis can often present as a diagnostic conundrum, due to its nonspecific and varied presentation, often mimicking inflammatory bowel disease or malignancy. Free perforation is one of the most feared complications of the intestinal tuberculosis. The terminal ileum is the most common site of perforation, while the majority of (90%) perforations are solitary. We present a 25 year old 17 weeks primi presented with peritonitis with solitary perforation of terminal ileum with miscarriage of fetus and subsequent surgical wedge resection of ileum and ileo-ileal anastomosis. Histology revealed presence of Langerhan’s cell with caseating granulomatous inflammation. There was no radiological evidence of pulmonary tuberculosis. Patient was started on anti-tubercular therapy and responded well. This present case underscores the importance of biopsy specimens taken from the margins of patients with ileal perforation to avoid the misdiagnosis of such condition.

Application value of tissue tuberculosis antigen combined with Xpert MTB/RIF detection in differential diagnoses of intestinal tuberculosis and Crohn\u2019s disease

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to examine the value of Xpert MTB/RIF assay and detection of additional Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) species antigens from intestinal tissue samples in differentiating intestinal tuberculosis (ITB) from Crohn’s disease (CD).MethodsSeveral clinical specimens of intestinal tissue obtained by either endoscopic biopsy or surgical excision were used for mycobacteriologic solid cultures,Xpert MTB/RIF assays, immunohistochemistry, and histological examinations. Four antigens (38KDa, ESAT-6, MPT64, and Ag85 complex) of MTBC in the intestinal tissue were detected by immunohistochemical analysis.ResultsThe study included 42 patients with ITB and 46 with CD. Perianal lesions and longitudinal ulcers were more common in patients with CD, while caseating granuloma and annular ulcers were more common in patients with ITB. The positive rate of MTBC detected by Xpert MTB/RIF in intestinal tissues of patients with ITB was 33.33%, which was significantly higher than that in patients with CD and that detected using acid-fast staining smears. It was also higher than that detected by tissue MTBC culture, but the difference was not statistically significant. The positive MPT64 expression rate in patients with ITB was 40.48%, which was significantly higher than that observed in patients with CD. The sensitivity of parallelly combined detection of tuberculosis protein MPT64 and Xpert MTB/RIF in diagnosing ITB was 50.0%.ConclusionsThe detection of Xpert MTB/RIF in intestinal tissue is a rapid and useful method for establishing an early diagnosis of ITB. The detection of MTBC using Xpert MTB/RIF and MPT64 antigen in intestinal tissues has a definitive value in the differential diagnosis ofITB and CD. The combination of these two methods can improve the detection sensitivity.

Is the rise in Crohn's disease in India accompanied by a fall in intestinal tuberculosis? A single-center experience

IntroductionThe relationship between the incidence of intestinal tuberculosis (TB) and Crohn's disease (CD) is interesting, especially considering the striking similarity between the two conditions. Some studies from Asian populations suggested that the incidence of intestinal TB decreases when there is an increase in CD. AimTo compare the incidence trend between intestinal TB and CD over 15 years. MethodsMedical records of patients seen in the Division of Gastroenterology over 15 years (2005–2019) were reviewed. CD was diagnosed according to the Copenhagen criteria. Intestinal TB was diagnosed in the appropriate clinical situation if any one or more of the following was present: (1) positive TB MGIT culture; (2) positive Gene Xpert for TB; (3) suggestive histologic findings, with positive tissue acid-fast bacillus (AFB) on smear or with sustained response to anti-TB therapy. The incidence time trend of patients with CD and intestinal TB diagnosis was then studied year-wise. Results632 medical case records were accessed; 60 patients were excluded due to inadequate data or not fulfilling diagnostic criteria. The 572 patients included 224 with intestinal TB (median age 37 years, IQR 22; 125 [56%] females) and 348 with CD (median age 40 years, IQR 25; 159 [46%] females [p < 0.02 as compared to TB]). Thus, more patients with CD were seen during the study period, but there was no correlation between the incidence of the two conditions (r = 0.318; p = 0.25). ConclusionIn Indian patients in a single private-sector center, there was no inverse correlation between the incidence of intestinal TB and CD over 15 years.

Apoptosis in peripheral blood lymphocytes in intestinal tuberculosis and Crohn’s disease: Implications to diagnostic differentiation

Intestinal tuberculosis (ITb) and Crohn's disease (CD) mimic each other often leading to misdiagnosis. We evaluated the difference between ITb and CD using the extent of apoptosis in peripheral blood lymphocytes. CD4+ cells as a percentage of the lymphocytes and viable, dead, total apoptotic, early apoptotic, and late apoptotic CD4+ cells were assessed in the peripheral blood by flow cytometry in healthy controls and patients with confirmed active ITb and CD prior to initiating therapy. Early apoptotic and total apoptotic cells were further expressed as a proportion of the percentage of CD4+ cells. The percentages of CD4+ cells (6.5 [3.0, 8.7] vs. 13.40 [10.15, 13.40]; p < 0.001), total apoptotic cells (0.13 [0.0, 0.22] vs. 0.08 [0.0, 0.21]; p = 0.045), early apoptotic (1.24 [0.55, 2.54] vs. 0.71 [0.40, 1.30]; p = 0.037), and the proportion of the latter two parameters (17.18 [5.61, 57.33] vs. 4.84 [2.71, 9.83]; p-value 0.039) and (17.18 [7.4, 67.50] vs. 5.51 [3.10, 11.03]; p-value 0.036) were significantly different between patients with ITb and CD. The best sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for the diagnosis of ITb were seen with the CD4+ cell percentage (82.6%, 82.4%, 86.4%, 77.8%, respectively) and the proportion of early apoptotic cells (73.9%, 70.6%, 77.3%, 66.7%, respectively). CD4+ cells as a percentage of peripheral blood lymphocytes and the proportion of early apoptotic CD4+ cells show promise to diagnostic differentiation betweenITb andCD.

Acute Peritonitis: A Rare Complication Revealing Intestinal Tuberculosis

Intestinal tuberculosis diagnosis is often difficult because of non-specific symptoms, miming many other conditions such as malignancy, infectious disease, and inflammatory bowel disease. Free intestinal perforation is an uncommon but life-threatening complication of intestinal tuberculosis, associated with high morbidity and mortality.

Ten Cases of Intestinal Tuberculosis Which Were Initially Misdiagnosed as Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Objective Intestinal tuberculosis (ITB) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) frequently present with similar clinical, endoscopic and pathological features, therefore it is difficult to differentiate between them. The aim of this study was to elucidate the diagnostic delay and prognosis of ITB cases, initially misdiagnosed as IBD. Methods ITB cases were selected from the hospitalized patient list between April 2004 and March 2017 in a tuberculosis center in Japan. We retrospectively evaluated the initial diagnosis, clinical characteristics, endoscopic and pathological findings, bacterial examinations, treatment and prognosis. Results Among 66 ITB patients, ten patients were initially misdiagnosed as IBD. Seven patients were male and the median age was 60.5 years (23-74 years). After the diagnosis of IBD, all the patients were treated with mesalazine, in addition to corticosteroids in two patients and sequential azathioprine and infliximab in one. The median duration of diagnostic delay was 5.5 months (range 0.5-17 months). Eight patients had active pulmonary tuberculosis at the diagnosis of ITB. Acid-fast bacilli were confirmed in four of seven patients by reevaluation of the pathological specimens at the IBD diagnosis. Two patients needed intestinal resection and one with erroneous corticosteroid use for IBD died due to respiratory failure in spite of receiving appropriate treatment for tuberculosis. Conclusion ITB patients were frequently misdiagnosed and treated as IBD, thus resulting in a poor clinical outcome even after finally making a correct diagnosis and administering appropriate treatment. On diagnosis of IBD and/or treatment failure, chest radiograph and acid-fast bacilli of the pathological specimens should be carefully evaluated in order to rule out tuberculosis.

Intestinal tuberculosis: clinico-pathological profile and the importance of a high degree of suspicion.

Intestinal tuberculosis (ITB) remains prevalent and a big health hazard in China. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyse its clinico-pathological features. Retrospective study of 85 consecutive ITB patients in two tertiary hospitals in East China. Relevant clinical, laboratory examination, radiological, endoscopic and histopathological features of ITB were recorded. The mean age was 37.3±16.0years; 56 patients (65.9%) were male. 67.1% had ITB secondary to pulmonary tuberculosis. The overall median length of hospital stay was 28days and was significantly longer in patients with intestinal complications (P=0.003) and malnutrition (P=0.042). Abdominal pain (88.2%) and weight loss (75.3%) were the commonest symptoms. The positive rate of the purified protein derivative (PPD) test was 88.2%; of the T-spot, 85.7%. Histopathology revealed caseating granuloma in 70.6% and caseating necrosis in 24.7% of patients. The most commonly affected sites were the ileocecal valve (56, 65.9%), terminal ileum (40, 47.1%) and caecum (33, 38.8%). Only 17 (20%) patients were initially diagnosed as ITB, the other 68 patients were misdiagnosed. Six patients with caecum tuberculosis were misdiagnosed as appendicitis, four of whom had improper surgical procedures followed by post-operative intestinal fistulas; two died due to MODS. Diagnosis of ITB is often misdirected and delayed, which may lead to inappropriate treatment and high mortality. High diagnostic suspicion is necessary for patients with unexplained abdominal complaints. Diagnosis is not easy but could benefit coexisting pulmonary tuberculosis, T-spot, CT imaging, colonoscopy, pathological features, acid-fast bacilli and response to anti-tuberculosis therapy (ATT).

Diagnostic Accuracy of Peritoneal Fluid GeneXpert in the Diagnosis of Intestinal Tuberculosis, Keeping Histopathology as the Gold Standard.

BackgroundThe diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis is a major health challenge. Limited data are available to support the use of GeneXpert MTB/RIF in the diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis. The current study is an analysis of the sensitivity and specificity of GeneXpert MTB/RIF for the diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis, keeping histopathology as the gold standard.Materials and methodsA prospective study was conducted in Surgery Unit-I of Holy Family hospital in the year 2017. Data of 21 patients presenting with abdominal tuberculosis were collected. The samples collected were ascitic fluid for GeneXpert and acid-fast bacilli (AFB) and a tissue sample for histopathology, which included either the enlarged lymph nodes or the involved gut segment.ResultsOut of a total of 21 patients, 10 were male and 11 were female. The predominant age group was less than 30 years with 76.2% cases. Of the 21 samples analyzed, all were positive for tuberculosis (TB) by histopathology. GeneXpert was positive in six and negative in 15 patients. The sensitivity of GeneXpert was 28.57% and specificity was 0%. The positive predictive value was 100%. The diagnostic accuracy was found to be 28.57%.ConclusionIn our study, GeneXpert has shown poor sensitivity and specificity for the detection of abdominal TB from ascitic fluid samples. On the basis of this data, we lay stress on finding new tests and biomarkers for the rapid diagnosis of abdominal TB.

Evaluation of Xpert MTB/RIF assay performance in the diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis.

Background/AimsThe use of genetic probes for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) has been well described. However, the role of these assays in the diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis is unclear. We therefore assessed the diagnostic utility of the Xpert Mycobacterium tuberculosis/rifampicin (MTB/RIF) assay, and estimated the prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB in the Indian population.MethodsOf 99 patients recruited, 37 had intestinal TB; two control groups comprised 43 with Crohn's disease (CD) and 19 with irritable bowel syndrome. Colonoscopy was performed before starting any therapy; mucosal biopsies were subjected to histopathology, acid-fast bacilli staining, Lowenstein-Jensen culture, and nucleic acid amplification testing using the Xpert MTB/RIF assay. Patients were followed up for 6 months to confirm the diagnosis and response to therapy. A composite reference standard was used for diagnosis of TB and assessment of the diagnostic utility of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay.ResultsOf 37 intestinal TB patients, the Xpert MTB/RIF assay was positive in three of 37 (8.1%), but none had MDR-TB. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay was 8.1%, 100%, 100%, and, 64.2%, respectively.ConclusionsThe Xpert MTB/RIF assay has low sensitivity but high specificity for intestinal TB, and may be helpful in endemic tuberculosis areas, when clinicians are faced with difficulty differentiating TB and CD. Based on the Xpert MTB/RIF assay, the prevalence of intestinal MDR-TB is low in the Indian population.

Intestinal tuberculosis and Crohn's disease: challenging differential diagnosis.

Along with epidemiological changes in tuberculosis (TB) and an increased incidence of Crohn's disease (CD), the differential diagnosis of intestinal TB (ITB) and CD is of vital importance and has become a clinical challenge because treatment based on misdiagnosis may lead to fatal outcomes. In this study, we reviewed the similarities and differences in clinical, endoscopic, radiological and histological features of these two diseases. Concomitant pulmonary TB, ascites, night sweats, involvement of fewer than four segments of the bowel, patulous ileocecal valve, transverse ulcers, scars or pseudopolyps strongly indicate ITB. Bloody stools, perianal signs, chronic diarrhea, extraintestinal manifestations, anorectal lesions, longitudinal ulcers and a cobblestone appearance are all suggestive of CD. Significant differences in the size, number, location and patterns of granulomas in ITB and CD with regard to their histopathologic features have been noted. Immune stain of cell surface markers is also helpful. Interferon-γ release assay and polymerase chain reaction analysis have achieved satisfactory sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of ITB. Computed tomography enterographic findings of segmental small bowel or left colon involvement, mural stratification, the comb sign and fibrofatty proliferation are significantly more common in CD, whereas mesenteric lymph node changes (calcification or central necrosis) and focal ileocecal lesions are more frequently seen in ITB. A diagnosis should be carefully established before the initiation of the therapy. In suspicious cases, short-term empirical anti-TB therapy is quite efficient to further confirm the diagnosis.

Diagnosis of Intestinal Tuberculosis by Tissue Xpert MTB/Rif in an HIV-1 Infected Patient

Diagnosis of Intestinal Tuberculosis by Tissue Xpert MTB/Rif in an HIV-1 Infected Patient