ÜMMÜHAN ÇAY, ÖZLEM ÖZGÜR GÜNDEŞLİOĞLU, DERYA ALABAZ
Southern Clinics of Istanbul Eurasia - 2022;33(3):298-303
INTRODUCTION: Abdominal tuberculosis (ATB) is a very rare type of extrapulmonary tuberculosis that occurs as a result of infection of the gastrointestinal tract, peritoneum, lymph nodes, and solid organs with Mycobacterium tuberculosis or Mycobacterium bovis. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical, laboratory, radiological, and histopathological features, diagnostic methods, and prognosis of pediatric cases diagnosed with ATB. METHODS: Thirteen patients diagnosed with ATB in our hospital between January 1, 2011, and January 1, 2021, were evaluated retrospectively. Results: Ten (76.9%) of the patients were females. The mean age was 13.5 years. TST was positive in 9 patients. Three patients had a history of TB contact. The median time between diagnosis and onset of symptoms was 45 (15150) days. The most common presenting symptom was abdominal pain. Seven of the patients were diagnosed with proven tuberculosis. M. tuberculosis grew in cultures of 5 patients. Tuberculosis polymerase chain reaction positivity was detected in the tissue of two of them. C-reactive protein was high in 9 (69.2%), sedimentation was high in 11 (84.6%) patients, albumin value was low in 5 (38.4%), and anemia was present in 10 (76.9%) patients. A single abdominal area was involved in 7 patients, and multiple abdominal areas were involved in 6 patients. The most frequently involved intra-abdominal area was the peritoneum, and the second was the lymph node. Two patients had isolated abdomen. Pulmonary tuberculosis accompanied in 9 (69.2%) patients. Eleven (84.6%) patients underwent laparoscopy. Intra-abdominal abscess complications developed in 1 patient. The mean follow-up period was 23 (1861) months. None of the patients died. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: ATB can be easily overlooked because it is very rare, and its clinical findings are nonspecific. It should be kept in mind in patients with chronic abdominal symptoms. Although tuberculosis is a preventable disease, the positive effects of early diagnosis and treatment on prognosis should not be forgotten.
