Critical complications of intestinal tuberculosis--a case report

Intestinal tuberculosis is a rare disease in developed countries, affecting mainly immigrants and immunocompromised patients. Clinical presentation may mimic many other abdominal diseases such as intra-abdominal infections, tumors, and Crohn´s disease. Differential diagnosis of Crohn´s disease and intestinal tuberculosis poses a dilemma to clinicians and pathologists as both are chronic granulomatous disorders with similar clinical features. We report the case of a 53 year-old man presenting with perforated intestinal tuberculosis in which the initial diagnostic work-up suggested Crohn´s disease. The severity of the findings resulted in critical complications during the course of treatment. This case points out the need for awareness of intestinal tuberculosis in the differential diagnosis of chronic intestinal disease.