Massive rectal bleeding from colonic tuberculosis

We describe a patient with massive rectal bleeding from colonic tuberculosis. This is an uncommon presentation of gastrointestinal tuberculosis with fewer than 20 cases reported in the medical literature. The incidence of tuberculosis has been increasing during the last decade. The resurgence of tuberculosis (secondary to increased immigration, more patients on immunosuppressive therapy, and the AIDS epidemic) mandates that the clinician be aware of the wide spectrum of presentation of intestinal tuberculosis. Endoscopy is the preferred method used to diagnose colonic tuberculosis.