Gastrointestinal tuberculosis in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis

Proven or suspected intestinal tuberculosis was diagnosed in 23 (46 per cent) of 50 patients with smear-positive, cavitating pulmonary tuberculosis. The diagnosis was regarded as proven in 14 patients and suspected in the remaining nine. The frequency of proven gastrointestinal disease increased with the severity of the pulmonary tuberculosis. Small intestinal disease was encountered in only two patients. Small mucosal lesions in the caecum were the most commonly detected pathological features. Colonoscopy was of particular value in establishing the diagnosis, which could not be predicted from the patients' abdominal signs or gastrointestinal symptoms.