EC Gastroenterology and Digestive System

Colonic tuberculosis [TB] is a rare entity even in countries with an endemic TB problem. While the current incidence of pulmonary TB is rising in the developed world the incidence of colonic TB has remained extremely rare. The incidence of TB in Canada has been documented at 26 per 100 000 population for Indigenous Canadians and 17 per 100 000 for immigrant Canadians from developing countries. This is in stark contrast to the 4.7 per 100 000 population for the rest of Canada which remains one of the lowest in the world. Manitoba remains the province at highest risk. Risk factors included immunocompromised patients such as HIV patients, geriatric population and intravenous drug users. Colonic TB is rarely diagnosed preoperatively and usually manifests as a surgical complication such as perforation or obstruction. Surgery is often limited to managing the complications of colonic disease. We would like to present our case series of two colonic TB patients, their endoscopic findings and their subsequent successful medical management.

 Keywords: Intestinal Tuberculosis; Colonic Tuberculosis; Extra Pulmonary Tuberculosis

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