[Colonic tuberculosis. Endoscopic diagnosis]

We present a patient with acute and severe abdominal pain, fever and mild tenderness elicited on deep palpation in the right lower quadrant. X-ray films of the chest and abdomen were normal. The ultrasonographic study, barium enema examination and colonoscopic study avoided a diagnostic laparotomy. A purified protein skin test (PPD) and the cultures on Lowestein medium were negative. The final diagnosis was ulcero-hipertrophic tuberculosis of the ascending colon, and was confirmed by the finding of positive acid fast facilli and granulomas with Langerhans cells in the colonic biopsy material. The colonic lesions disapplared at the end of the antituberculous treatment.