Anatomical Site Distribution of Histopathologically Confirmed Intestinal Tuberculosis in Surgically Managed Patients

Open Access

Abstract

Introduction: Intestinal tuberculosis is one of the common forms of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in endemic countries and frequently presents with nonspecific clinical features, making early diagnosis challenging. Knowledge of the common anatomical sites of involvement is important for accurate diagnosis, appropriate surgical planning, and effective patient management. The present study was undertaken to determine the anatomical site distribution of histopathologically confirmed intestinal tuberculosis in surgically managed patients. Methods & Materials: This descriptive cross-sectional observational study was conducted in the Department of Surgery of Uttara Adhunik Medical College Hospital (UAMCH) and Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), Dhaka, Bangladesh, from January 2015 to December 2015. Purposive sampling was employed, and 30 histopathologically confirmed intestinal tuberculosis patients were included in the study. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. Result: The mean age of the patients was 31.1 ± 9.7 years (range: 15-58 years), with the highest 40.0% belonging to the 21-30-year age group. Abdominal pain (83.3%), weight loss (76.7%), and fever, malaise, and anorexia (60.0%) were the most common presenting symptoms, while pallor (86.7%), distended abdomen (63.3%), and abdominal tenderness and palpable abdominal mass (56.7% each) were the predominant physical signs. The ileocaecal region was the most frequently involved anatomical site (56.7%), followed by the ileum (20.0%), whereas isolated involvement of the caecum (10.0%), colon (10.0%), and jejunum (3.3%) was relatively uncommon. Conclusion: The ileocaecal region was identified as the most commonly involved anatomical site, followed by the ileum, whereas isolated lesions of the caecum, colon, and jejunum were relatively infrequent. These findings reaffirm the characteristic predilection of intestinal tuberculosis for the ileocaecal region and highlight the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion in patients presenting with lesions at this site.