[Abdominal tuberculosis today. A review of 46 cases]

The clinical features, radiological and therapeutic response of 46 cases of abdominal tuberculosis (AT) seen at a university hospital are presented. Diagnosis was anatomopathologic in 39 cases (85%) and clinical with response to tuberculostatic in 7 cases (15%). Most of the patients did not have history nor exposition to tuberculosis. Both sexes were similar affected, mean age 43 years old, between 11 and 79. Clinical manifestations were no specific, the most frequent fever (65%), abdominal pain (63%) and constitutional syndrome with asthenia, anorexia and weight loss (63%). Thorax radiograph was normal in 50% and PPD negative in 42%, so in 10% of patients both tests were negative. More than half of the patients had other disease. 82% of patients were cured with tuberculostatic. 18% of patients died. AT seen now is different from classic descriptions. Is not a complication of pulmonary tuberculosis (PT) as it was to be in the past. Thinking in AT only in patients with PT make most patients lead without diagnosis.