Colonic Tuberculosis Masquerading as Colon Cancer

Isolated colonic tuberculosis (TB) is rare, and the symptoms are nonspecific making early diagnosis and management difficult. Although colonoscopy and biopsy is an important diagnostic modality, the features are variable and the distinction from other conditions of the colon, especially Crohn’s disease and cancer, may be impossible without surgical resection. Diagnostic laparoscopy is now emerging as a valuable diagnostic tool; however, erroneous diagnosis may be made. We report a case of ascending colon TB which was mistaken for colonic cancer at laparoscopy. The diagnosis was finally made when the histopathology report was received. The diagnostic dilemma of colonic TB is discussed.