Crohn's disease and intestinal tuberculosis: challenging from every angle

A woman in her 20s with a recent diagnosis of Crohn's disease (CD) affecting the ileocaecal valve was started on adalimumab, after routine tuberculosis (TB) tests were negative. Her abdominal symptoms got worse and she started presenting respiratory distress and fever. Tomography revealed a left pleural effusion, pneumonia and peritonitis with pelvic abscess. The diagnosis of disseminated TB with digestive involvement was suggested and sputum cultures were positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis Treatment for TB was started and immunosuppressants discontinued, leading to respiratory improvement. Abdominal imaging was repeated, showing worsening signs of multisegmental ileal wall thickening, ileocaecal valve obstruction and a persistent pelvic abscess. She was then submitted to a laparoscopic ileocaecal resection for suspicion of worsening CD. Histopathology showed chronic ileocolitis compatible with CD and ganglionic tuberculosis, revealing the diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis superimposed in CD. Recovery was uneventful.

Intestinal tuberculosis presented as spindle cell pseudotumor in a HIV-positive case

MSP is a rare and atypical form of benign granulomatous inflammation characterised by tumour-like local proliferation of spindle-shaped histiocytes containing acid-fast positive mycobacteria, which should be differentiated from neoplastic lesions. A 26-year-old Chinese man complained an intermittent and mild right lower abdominal pain for 5 months in May 2022.Histopathology of biopsy samples showed Mycobacterial spindle cell pseudotumor (MSP). The test of Mycobacterium tuberculosis detected by polymerase chain reaction using intestinal tissue slice was negative. The metagenomic next-generation sequencing (BGI-Shenzhen) using formalin-fixation and paraffin-embedded intestine samples confirmed Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC).

Assessment of CT perfusion indices of the clinicoradiological response to anti-tubercular therapy in patients with intestinal tuberculosis

AIM

To explore the possibility of using a novel technique, CT perfusion imaging, to monitor the response to anti-tubercular therapy (ATT) in patients with intestinal tuberculosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A prospective observational study was performed in adults with treatment naive-intestinal tuberculosis. Clinical, endoscopic, and conventional radiological findings of patients were compared at baseline and post-ATT. CT perfusion imaging was performed with recording of six perfusion parameters (blood flow, blood volume, mean transit time, time to peak, maximum peak intensity, and permeability/blood flow extraction).

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients (13 women, 59%) with a median age of 25 years were recruited. The terminal ileum and ileocaecal junction were the most frequent sites of involvement (59%), with multiple segments of the intestine being involved in 16 patients (73%). Median duration of ATT was 6 months (range 6-10 months). Complete clinical response was observed in 22/22 (100%) patients, endoscopic response in 12/12 (100%) patients, and radiological response in 10/13 (76%) patients. There was a significant decrease in mean blood flow, blood volume, maximum peak intensity, and an increase in mean transit time and time to peak on follow-up CT perfusion imaging performed after 6 months of ATT.

CONCLUSION

Significant alterations in CT perfusion parameters were demonstrated following treatment, consistent with a decline in inflammation and vascularity. CT perfusion imaging of the bowel is a novel means to assess the radiological response to ATT in intestinal tuberculosis, although at the cost of a higher dose of radiation exposure.

A case report of systemic lupus erythematosus and intestinal tuberculosis with lower gastrointestinal bleeding: A treatment approach utilizing parenteral nutrition

RATIONALE

Limited literatures are available on lower gastrointestinal bleeding in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) combined with intestinal tuberculosis. Sharing the treatment experiences of a 26-year-old female patient diagnosed with this complex condition in this report may contribute valuable insights.

PATIENT CONCERNS

The patient initially presented with abdominal pain and active gastrointestinal bleeding, leading to admission to the hospital. Over a 2-week period, she experienced persistent bleeding, with daily volumes ranging from 300 mL to 800 mL.

DIAGNOSES

Lower gastrointestinal bleeding was diagnosed in this patient with concurrent systemic lupus erythematosus and intestinal tuberculosis.

INTERVENTIONS

As her symptoms rapidly progressed, food and water intake had to be completely restricted. The parenteral nutrition was implemented.

OUTCOMES

The medical team effectively controlled the bleeding, leading to a notable improvement in the patient's condition. Consequently, she was able to resume oral intake and was discharged from the hospital.

LESSONS

This case highlights the significance of using parenteral nutrition in the management of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with concurrent systemic lupus erythematosus and intestinal tuberculosis. Close monitoring and collaborative efforts among healthcare professionals are crucial to achieve successful outcomes in similar cases.

Case report: a case report and literature analysis on intestinal tuberculosis intestinal perforation complicated by umbilical intestinal fistula and bladder ileal fistula

BACKGROUND

Intestinal tuberculosis is a chronic and specific infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis invading the intestine. Due to the nonspecific clinical presentation, it is stressed that intestinal perforation complicates umbilical intestinal fistula and bladder ileal fistula is very rare and extremely difficult to be diagnosed. It is significant to identify the disease and take urgent intervene in the early stage.

CASE PRESENTATION

An 18-month-old boy patient presented with abdominal pain. Abdominal CT suggested abscess formation in the right lower abdomen and pelvis. The patient underwent resection of necrotic and stenotic intestinal segments with the creation of an ileostomy, cystostomy and vesicoureteral fistula repair for the presence of intestinal perforation complicated by vesicoureteral fistula and umbilical enterocutaneous fistula. Histopathology confirmed the intestinal tuberculosis. The patient was discharged successfully after 11 days post anti-tuberculosis treatment.

CONCLUSION

Our case report here is a rare case of umbilical intestinal fistula with bladder ileal fistula secondary to intestinal perforation from intestinal tuberculosis. The purpose of this report is to make the surgical community aware of atypical presentations of intestinal tuberculosis. If our peers encounter the similar situation, they can be prepared for corresponding diagnosis and treatment.

Abdominal Tuberculosis in Children: Is It Really Uncommon?

Now a day's tuberculosis has become a global emergency especially in children and abdomen is the sixth commonest extra-pulmonary site of involvement. Diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis (TB) in children is still challenging. Non specific constitutional symptoms and long lasting abdominal manifestations cause unnecessary delay in diagnosis in children. Abdominal TB can be of various types like peritoneal TB, gastrointestinal TB, tubercular lymphadenopathy and visceral TB. Diagnosis can be confirmed by histopathology, culture or PCR and imaging technique also play an important role in diagnosis. Morbidity and mortality can be reduced in significant number by early recognition and effective aggressive treatment. In TB endemic areas, it could be strongly considered in children with vague complaints like chronic abdominal pain, low grade fever and weight loss. Response to anti-tubercular therapy may indirectly help the physicians to come to a diagnosis.

Ventriculocholecysto shunt: a solution to recurrent shunt complications in comorbid post-tubercular hydrocephalus with tubercular adhesive peritonitis

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis is still a killer disease and a nightmare in developing countries. Post-tubercular hydrocephalus remains one of the most severe complications, with many diversion procedure methods. How common is the occurrence of co-morbid post tubercular hydrocephalus with tubercular peritonitis is still not known. This is a frustrating cause of repeated shunt complications and revisions.

METHODS

We discuss the management of two cases that were the cause of nearly 50 % of our shunt revisions due to the comorbidities of post-tubercular hydrocephalus and tubercular adhesive peritonitis. We performed the ventriculocholecysto (VC) shunt. This procedure diverts CSF from the ventricular system to the gall bladder.

RESULTS

The two children are disease free and did not require a revision in the 3.4-year follow-up period.

CONCLUSION

The VC shunt is a simple procedure. It improved the quality of life of these children who otherwise would have had a very morbid period during shunt revisions and the active disease. These children did not require further revisions and can grow normally.

Peritoneal tuberculosis with elevated serum CA 125 level mimicking advanced ovarian carcinoma in an adolescent

Differential diagnosis between tuberculous peritonitis and peritonitis carcinomatosis is extremely difficult in patients with ascites, peritoneal implants and elevated CA 125 level. A 16-year-old girl presented with abdominal distention, intermittent fever and weight loss. Physical examination and radiologic studies revealed massive ascites, generalized peritoneal thickening and slightly enlarged right ovary with a cystic mass and left pleural effusion. Serum CA 125 was 939 U/L (normal range: 0-35 U/L) and other tumor markers including alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) were within normal range. Acid-fast stain and culture were negative for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Diagnostic laparoscopy and biopsy were performed with the presumptive diagnosis of peritonitis carcinomatosis, and histologic examination revealed multiple granulomas with epithelioid cells and caseification necrosis which confirmed tuberculosis. Quadruple anti-tuberculosis treatment was administered and the patient's clinical findings and serum CA 125 level returned to normal. In conclusion, tuberculous peritonitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with ascites and elevated serum CA 125. This marker may be useful in monitoring treatment response.

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis. A review

The increase in cases of tuberculosis that has occurred with the increasing number of individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has focused attention on the problems in diagnosing and treating tuberculosis. While it is primarily considered a pulmonary disease, tuberculosis has the potential to infect almost every organ system via lymphohematogenous dissemination during the initial pulmonary infection. Since 1984 the incidence of extrapulmonary tuberculosis has increased at an even faster rate than that of pulmonary tuberculosis. Extrapulmonary tuberculosis is considered a diagnostic criterion in the case definition of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Immunocompromised individuals, such as patients with HIV, are at increased risk for extrapulmonary tuberculosis. The clinical manifestations are often nonspecific and insidious, and diagnosis may be delayed for years. Cases of miliary and meningeal tuberculosis are an exception, and they often constitute medical emergencies. Tuberculosis skin tests should be performed on all individuals suspected of having tuberculosis, but a negative test result does not exclude the diagnosis. Chest roentgenograms will often show signs of old or active pulmonary tuberculosis. Microscopic examination and culture of infected body fluids and/or tissue are necessary for definitive diagnosis. Treatment is with standard antituberculous medications. Short-course therapy (6 or 9 months) is probably adequate in most patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis, but patients with human immunodeficiency viral infection need longer treatment. Extrapulmonary tuberculosis is a persistent problem in the United States and will become more prevalent as the number of patients with HIV increases. A high index of suspicion is needed to diagnose and treat extrapulmonary tuberculosis in a timely and health-preserving manner.

An unusual case of peritonitis

Though peritonitis is a common complication in Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD), tuberculous peritonitis has been reported in only twelve CAPD patients in the world English literature to date. Successful outcome in those reported cases involved antituberculous therapy and in the majority, catheter removal and conversion to maintenance haemodialysis. We report in this article our first case of tuberculous peritonitis in a CAPD patient. The diagnosis was made at laparotomy in our patient and she improved with antituberculous therapy. CAPD was continued without interruption. In haemodialysis patients, mortality from tuberculosis is reported to be high due to atypical presentation and delay in diagnosis. To avoid this delay, we recommend that the clinician have high index of suspicion for tuberculous peritonitis in CAPD patients with sterile peritonitis. Early diagnosis carries a good prognosis, and CAPD need not necessarily be discontinued in these patients.

Abdominal tuberculosis

The recent literature on abdominal tuberculosis is comprehensively reviewed, and seven cases of abdominal tuberculosis are reported, including four belonging to three generations of the same family. Possible explanations for this familial incidence are discussed. Abdominal tuberculosis is not so rare; 135 cases have recently been reported from the United States and Canada. This review dissipates four common misconceptions: abdominal tuberculosis is rare, tuberculosis is a stigmata of the poor, abdominal tuberculosis is always associated with active pulmonary tuberculosis, and chronic abdominal pathology is synonymous with regional enteritis. Since the description of regional enteritis, more and more cases of chronic intestinal pathology have been labeled "regional enteritis." The fact that intestinal tuberculosis is rather uncommon should not automatically lead to the diagnosis of regional enteritis. The possibility that many cases of so-called regional enteritis may, in fact, be a stage or a variant of abdominal tuberculosis, is worth considering. Abdominal tuberculosis is not a relic of the past. It remains a real challenge to the diagnostic acumen and therapeutic skills of both the internist and the surgeon.