CT and barium features of gastrointestinal and peritoneal tuberculosis

The radiological features in barium gastrointestinal studies and computed tomographic (CT) examinations of 22 consecutive cases of proven peritoneal and/or intestinal tuberculosis were analyzed in order to highlight the radiological features which could provide ready identification of the disease. There were 15 cases of intestinal tuberculosis and 7 cases of peritoneal tuberculosis and 3 patients had both. The commonest location of intestinal tuberculosis was the ileocecal region (N=10) which occurred in association with colonic or ilea] disease. Bowel wall thickening in CT was largely asymmetrical but minimal and symmetrical wall thickening occurred with peritonitis. Luminal narrowing with or without mucosal tethering were seen in both CT and Barium studies. Peritoneal TB had either high density ascites with smudge or nodular omental surface with a thickened omental lining. Also detected was fibrinous dry peritonitis with thickened mesenteric tissue. Lymphadenopathy in the peripancreatic, mesenteric or paracaval were common to both intestinal or peritoneal tuberculosis (21 out of 22). Fifty percent of the patients showed some lymph nodes with necrotic centers. The differential diagnosis included malignant peritonitis and intestinal or mesenteric carcinoid. The study shows that a combination of barium gastrointestinal study and computed tomography can provide distinct features which could strongly suggest the diagnosis of intestinal or peritoneal tuberculosis.