The role of colonoscopy in the diagnosis of tuberculosis

The value of colonoscopy in the diagnosis of ileocolonic tuberculosis at Groote Schuur Hospital was assessed and the published world experience reviewed. During a 4-year period, abdominal tuberculosis was diagnosed in 94 patients, of whom 18 manifested involvement of the ileocecal area and/or colon. Colonoscopy, performed in 10 of these, provided diagnostic information in 7. Since the endoscopic appearance of diseased mucosa is nonspecific, adequate bacteriological and histological assessment of biopsied tissue is essential to differentiate tuberculosis from other disorders that may simulate it. We stress the importance of microscopy and culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis.