II. Pathophysiology
- Involves any part of Gastrointestinal Tract
- Ileocecal most commonly affected
- Risk of contracting gastrointestinal Tb
- Parallels severity of pulmonary disease
- Transmission
- Swallowing infected Sputum or contaminated food
- Hematogenous spread
- Contiguous spread from involved tissue
III. Symptoms
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Abdominal Pain
- Diarrhea
IV. Signs
- Blood in stool
- Palpable right lower quadrant mass
V. Differential Diagnosis
-
Crohn's Disease
- Critical to differentiate from Tuberculosis
- Crohn's Treatment disseminates Tuberculosis
- Infection
- Colon Cancer
VI. Diagnosis
- Endoscopy
- Mucosal injury
- Ulcerations
- Hypertrophic lesions
- Dense bandlike fibrosis
- Mucosal biopsy shows Acid Fast Bacilli (low yield)
- Culture of biopsy specimens
- Mucosal injury
- CT Abdomen
-
Barium Enema
- Shortened and retracted cecum
VII. Management
- See Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis
- Treat for six months
VIII. Complications
- Intestinal Obstruction
- Bowel perforation
- Enteric fistulas