Crohn’s Disease Previously Mistreated as Intestinal Tuberculosis Complicated with Ileocecal Lump: A Case Report

TL;DR

A man in Southeast Asia was initially misdiagnosed with intestinal tuberculosis but later found to have Crohn's disease, highlighting diagnostic challenges in regions with high TB prevalence.

Contribution

This case report emphasizes the diagnostic difficulties of Crohn's disease in tuberculosis-endemic regions and the need for advanced diagnostic tools.

Findings

A 25-year-old male was misdiagnosed with intestinal TB but later confirmed to have Crohn's disease.

Histopathological analysis after hemicolectomy confirmed the correct diagnosis.

The case underscores the importance of multidisciplinary approaches in complex diagnoses.

Abstract

In Southeast Asia, the higher prevalence of Intestinal tuberculosis (TB) challenges the diagnosis of Crohn's disease (CD) due to their overlapping symptoms. This case involves a 25-year-old male misdiagnosed with Intestinal tuberculosis presenting with abdominal pain, weight loss, and bowel ulceration. Recurrence after anti-tubercular therapy led to further investigation paving to right hemicolectomy and histopathological analysis confirming Crohn's disease. This case highlights the complexity of the diagnosis of Crohn's disease in tuberculosis-prevalent areas, stressing the clinical importance, advanced diagnostics tools, and multidisciplinary approach for effective intervention.

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