[Intestinal tuberculosis: analysis of clinical cases and autopsy]

Intestinal tuberculosis is rare compared to other forms of the disease. A review of the last 10 years in a General University hospital identified 21 cases diagnosed at autopsy and 8 during life. Most patients were males, older than 30 years of age, alcoholics and originating in southern Chile. Evidence of concomitant pulmonary tuberculosis was frequent. Disease was located most commonly at the ileum and cecum, and surgery was needed in a high proportion of cases. Hepatic cirrhosis and lymphopenia were common findings in autopsy patients.