Primary tuberculous enteritis

Because of the large influx of immigrants from the Third World into this country, primary enteric tuberculosis, although rare, can still be found in all sections of the United States. The fact that it may mimic the more common neoplastic and granulomatous diseases, coupled with the relative paucity of instances, increases the likelihood of a misdiagnosis. Diagnosis may be further complicated by a false-negative Mantoux test (purified protein derivative skin test) and lack of evidence of tuberculosis elsewhere in the patient. Adequate treatment consists of appropriate chemotherapeutic agents and the judicious use of surgical resection. Given appropriate treatment, the outcome in most patients should be favorable.