One hundred and seven cases of abdominal
tuberculosis were analyzed. There were no specific laboratory or x-ray findings pathognomonic of abdominal
tuberculosis.
Leukopenia was often found, but was nonspecific. An abdominal
tumor was often palpable. A great rarity in our series was profuse
hemorrhage from a jejunal tuberculous
ulcer; the patient had to be subjected to an emergency operation. In another case
tuberculosis appeared in a side-to-side small intestinal anastomosis and in its blind ends, which had developed as a late complication. The diagnosis of abdominal
tuberculosis must be confirmed by histologic examination of biopsy specimens; if the results are inconclusive,
acid-fast bacilli must be seen or culture should be positive. Guinea-pig inoculation is rarely positive, probably owing to the low virulence of the tuberculous bacteria in abdominal
tuberculosis. Good results are obtained with
chemotherapy in both intestinal and peritoneal
tuberculosis. The complications, obstruction being most usual, must be surgically treated. Resection of the affected segment is the best
surgical procedure. For ileocecal
tuberculosis, right
hemicolectomy was performed. According to the authors, roentgenographic evidence of
tuberculosis in the abdomen must always be confirmed by operation, because differentiation from
carcinoma and other inflammatory lesions is impossible. For good results after operation, anti-
tuberculosis chemotherapy is mandatory.