Tubercular colitis masquerading as ischemic colitis: An unusual presentation

• Main Authors: Vishal Sharma, Harshal S Mandavdhare, Kaushal K Prasad, Harjeet Singh, Usha Dutta
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2017-01-01
• Series: International Journal of Mycobacteriology
• Subjects: Abdominal tuberculosis; colon; colonic ischemia; inflammatory bowel disease; tuberculosis
• Online Access: http://www.ijmyco.org/article.asp?issn=2212-5531;year=2017;volume=6;issue=4;spage=404;epage=406;aulast=Sharma
• ISSN: 2212-5531; 2212-554X

Tuberculosis is a common clinical problem which can involve virtually any organ and mimic a multitude of clinical conditions. Colonic tuberculosis is a type of intestinal tuberculosis which involves the colon and mimics inflammatory bowel disease. Occasionally, it is also confused with colonic malignancy. We report the case of a young female who presented with abdominal pain, bleeding per rectum. Abdominal X-ray showed evidence of thumb-printing. A possibility of ischemic colitis was entertained. However, further investigation unraveled the presence of tubercular colitis. The patient improved with anti-tubercular therapy. Colonic tuberculosis can mimic a number of clinical entities and should be considered in differential diagnosis of colonic lesions in endemic areas.