Abdominal tuberculosis in children

Problems in the management of abdominal tuberculosis in children are discussed with reference to 80 surgically proven cases. The protean clinical manifestation depends on the site and the extent of the disease and its complications. The clinical diagnosis is difficult because of the vague symptoms, non-specific signs, and non-availablity of specific diagnostic tests. The most common type of pathology seen in abdominal tuberculosis in the paediatrics age were adhesive variety followed by nodal type. Strictures of the small bowel are uncommon and hyperplastic variety is rarely seen in this age group. Response to the antitubercular drugs is excellent however, the post operative complications and mortality remain high.     

Abdominal tuberculosis in pregnancy

Two patients are described who presented with abdominal tuberculous ascites and hepatomegaly, one in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy who aborted and the other in the post partum period following a normal delivery. Both patients responded to anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy.     

误诊为肿瘤的腹腔结核

目的 探讨腹腔结核（TB)的临床病理特征和诊断。方法 对1962－1997年间，临床上被误诊为肿瘤（其中31例被误诊为恶性肿瘤），术后经病理检查确诊的45例腹腔TB作回顾性研究。结果 腹腔TB以青年人（≤40岁者29例，64％）和女性（28例，62％）多见。临床主要表现为腹部包块37例（82％）和腹痛30例（67％），其中伴发热17例（38％）、腹胀、便秘或腹泻15例（33％）、体重减轻14例（29％）。手术所见：病变均为肠、腹膜和淋巴结多处受累，病变处有大小不等的包块和结节，酷似癌。镜检：增生型25例，干酪样坏死型14例，混合型6例。结论 腹腔TB的临床诊断与癌的鉴别困难。要提高对腹腔TB临床病理特征的认识，对经各种检查难以确诊的病例，作剖腹探查活检是必要的，以免造成误诊误治。     

Abdominal tuberculosis in children: CT findings

Tuberculous peritonitis is a rare manifestation of childhood tuberculosis. The computed tomographic (CT) scans of three patients with abdominal tuberculosis were reviewed to determine the range of abdominal involvement. This report describes the following CT features of abdominal tuberculosis: (1) diffuse lymphadenopathy involving mesenteric and retroperitoneal lymph nodes; (2) low-density lymph nodes with multilocular appearance following intravenous contrast; (3) high-density ascites; (4) mottled low-density masses in the omentum; (5) thickening of the bowel wall adjacent to the mesentery; and (6) hepatic pseudotumors. These CT features of abdominal tuberculosis, in the appropriate clinical setting, should help optimize the correct diagnosis and management of tuberculosis in children.     

Abdominal tuberculosis: a frequent diagnostic challenge

In recent years, abdominal tuberculosis has become rare in many countries even where pulmonary tuberculosis still exists. A case of abdominal tuberculosis is described in a young male who presented with non-specific symptoms together with CT scan findings that simulated abdominal lymphoma. Diagnosis was established during abdominal exploration. The frequency of various presenting manifestations of abdominal tuberculosis are discussed. The report emphasizes the need for a high index of suspicion to save patients unnecessary exploratory laparatomy.     

Abdominal tuberculosis in children. Report of 10 cases

BACKGROUND: Abdominal tuberculosis is a rare location of this infection with a lot of diagnostic difficulties. The aim of this study was to review our experience of pediatric abdominal tuberculosis with that of the literature data. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted over a 7-year period; 10 cases of abdominal tuberculosis in children were reviewed (6 girls and 4 boys, mean age: 11 years, extremes 4-14). Eight patients enrolled in this study satisfied the following criteria: a positive culture for mycobacterium tuberculosis on samples of ascites fluid, sputum, urine, abscess puncture and/or caseating granulomas on histologic examination of biopsies obtained by endoscopy, percutaneous aspiration or needle biopsy or exploratory laparotomy. Two other patients (patients No 1 & 5) had a favorable response within 10 weeks of antituberculous therapy. RESULTS: We observed 8 cases of peritoneal tuberculosis and 2 cases of intestinal tuberculosis. Extra-abdominal tuberculosis was found in 4 of those patients. Two patients had a contact with a tuberculosis positive individual. Nine children had BCG immunization. The main clinical features were abdominal distension (6 cases) and abdominal pain (6 cases). Abdominal ultrasonography visualized mesenteric lymphadenopathies (6 cases), an abdominal mass (5 cases), free (1 case) and localized ascites (1 case). Barium enema and small bowell series showed small bowel stenosis (1 case) and ileal ulcerations (1 case). Exploratory laparotomy, performed in 3 patients, showed whitish granulations and peritoneal abscesses with caseous necrosis on histology. Quadruple therapy with tuberculostatic agents was prescribed in all patients, associating isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide combined at the start of the treatment with streptomycin (7 cases) and ethambutol (3 cases). Short term outcome was favorable with no deaths. The long term outcome was complicated by persistent ascites (1 case) and the development of portal hypertension (1 case). CONCLUSION: Abdominal tuberculosis remains a rare localization with a lot of diagnostic difficulties.     

Abdominal tuberculosis in a tertiary care centre in Saudi Arabia

ObjectivesAbdominal tuberculosis (ATB) is the second most common type of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis. Though it does not usually pose a significant risk of infectivity, ATB can go unidentified and progress to disseminated infection. The aim of this study is to highlight the incidence and outcome of this infection in a tertiary care centre in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).MethodsIn this retrospective study, we included all ATB patients admitted to our centre between January 1 ^st, 2010 and December 31, 2018. A total of 42 patients with a median age of 49 (range 18–83 years, 78.6% males) were identified.ResultsThe most common presentation was abdominal pain, weight loss, and abdominal distension. All the patients were HIV negative; however, 50% had a comorbid condition, mainly diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, and liver cirrhosis. Tuberculous peritonitis was the predominant type of ATB. Suspicious and potentially malignant abdominal masses appeared on the abdominal CT scans of six patients. This suggest that TB should be excluded in patients from endemic area presenting with abdominal masses.All patients received standard anti-tuberculous medication for an average duration of 7.4 months. The outcome was excellent with 88%% achieving complete response. Adjunctive corticosteroids were not used, and none of the patients had a surgical complication.ConclusionThe diagnosis of ATB is challenging. It can mimic inflammatory bowel disease in young populations and malignancy in middle-aged and elderly population. For this reason, a high index of suspicion with prompt treatment is required to improve the prognosis and prevent complications.     

Abdominal tuberculosis of the gastrointestinal tract: Revisited

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.     

Abdominal tuberculosis: the problem of diagnostic delay

Abdominal tuberculosis can be difficult to diagnose. In order to minimize diagnostic delay, an audit study showed that the Mantoux test and/or culture of ascitic fluid did not reveal tuberculosis immediately. Laparoscopy/laparotomy with Ziel-Nielson staining and culture of tissue biopsy always confirmed the diagnosis. It is suggested that biopsy should be the first line in investigating patients suspected of having abdominal tuberculosis.