INTRODUCTION: Tuberculous affection of the gastrointestinal tract is common in the Indian subcontinent accounting for about 10% of intestinal yuberculosis. These subset of patients were under diagnosed.Colonoscopy has helped to solve the difficult situation since its invention.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES : The purpose of this study was to study the various types of presentation of the disease, to assess the role of colonoscopy in the diagnosis of the disease, evaluation of the disease and morphology of the disease.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was a retrospective study involving 286 consecutive patients who underwent colonoscopy for various indications from June 2002 to December 2003. Among these 18 cases were found to be biopsy proven cases of tuberculosis.
.RESULTS: In our series tuberculous affection of the colon was seen in 18 cases (biopsy proven), accounting for 6% of total colonoscopies. The commonest site of involvement in both males and females was cecum. Most of them presented with ulceronodular type of lesions,
DISCUSSION: Compared to the western countries colorectal tuberculosis is much more common in Indian subcontinent and it also differs in its clinical presentation and colonoscopy appearance. The morphological types also differed in different clinical studies. The association with other organ involvement like pulmonary and lymph node involvement was not noted in our study.
CONCLUSION: Colonoscopy is an invaluable tool in establishing definitive diagnosis. It helps in exact assessment of the severity, extent and morphology of the disease thus helping in decision making with regard to the mode of treatment.
KEY WORDS: colonoscopy, colorectal tuberculosis, decision making
