Abdominal tuberculosis in Saudi Arabia : a clinicopathological study of 65 cases

The clinical and pathological features of 65 patients with abdominal tuberculosis obtained during a 7-yr period were analyzed and the diagnostic procedures critically evaluated. The diagnosis was histologically confirmed in 59 patients. In two more patients, the diagnosis was based solely on a positive ascitic fluid culture for tubercle bacilli. The remaining four patients responded dramatically to anti-tuberculous chemotherapy given on suspected laparoscopic findings in cases in which no biopsy was taken. Laparoscopy was found to be safer and superior to laparatomy and is recommended as an initial investigation in the diagnostic work-up of patients in whom tuberculous peritonitis is suspected