Tuberculous colonic strictures: impact of dilation on diagnosis

Colonic strictures are commonly encountered in patients with colonic tuberculosis. If the colonoscope cannot be negotiated past the stricture the procedure is abandoned, the colonic mucosa proximal to the stricture cannot be inspected, and therefore lesions in these locations may be missed.

130 patients with colonic tuberculosis were studied. Of these 22 (17 %) had impassable colonic strictures. These strictures were dilated, the colonic mucosa proximal to the strictures was then inspected, and biopsies were obtained from lesions of suspicious appearance.

All strictures could be dilated. No abnormality was found in 11 patients. In the other 11 patients one or more additional findings were noted on colonoscopy after dilation. A second stricture was found in three patients. Nodularity and/or ulceration was observed in the colon proximal to the site of the primary stricture in ten patients. Dilation of the strictures and histological examination of the biopsy from target lesions of the proximal colon contributed to making the definitive diagnosis in five patients. The diagnosis was not altered in the remaining six patients.

Dilation of colonic strictures facilitates inspection of the colonic mucosa proximal to the strictures, enabling biopsy of target lesions. This approach offers important diagnostic clues and confirmation of the diagnosis in several patients in whom lesions might be missed if strictures are not dilated.