Intestinal tuberculosis revealed by acute intestinal obstruction: a case report and review of the literature

TL;DR

A case of intestinal tuberculosis was diagnosed after a patient presented with acute intestinal obstruction caused by a mass in the ileum.

Contribution

This case highlights the rare presentation of intestinal tuberculosis as a cause of acute intestinal obstruction.

Findings

A 78-year-old patient presented with acute intestinal obstruction due to an ileal mass.

Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis.

The case underscores the importance of considering tuberculosis in differential diagnoses of bowel obstructions.

Abstract

Tuberculosis is a major public health problem. It is an infectious disease present in every country in the world and can occur at any age, with a higher incidence in developing countries. Among the extra-pulmonary forms, the intestinal form is rare and often misdiagnosed and/or lately at the stage of complications such as occlusion, stricture, perforation, or hemorrhage. Unfortunately, this contributes to the increased mortality and morbidity associated with this benign disease. We report the case of a 78-year-old patient who presented to our department with an acute intestinal obstruction, secondary to an ileal mass. He had undergone bowel resection of the mass and hand sewn end-to-end anastomosis. Histopathological examination of the specimen confirmed intestinal tuberculosis.

Figures