This report is a review of 30 patients who were pathologically proven intestinal tuberculosis and surgically treated at the department of surgery, Korea University Hospital from Jan, 1985 to Dec. 1989.
@ES The results were as follows.
@EN 1) The ratio of male to female was 1 : 1.7, and the peak incidence was second and third decade (4.7%).
2) Clinical findings were abdominal pain(77%), palpable abdominal masses(50%), weight loss (47%), abdominal tenderness(47%), but these were not helpful to diagnose of intestinal tuberculosis preperatively.
3) 19 cases(63%) have history of tuberculosis such as pulmonary tuberculosis(30%), intestinal tuberculosis(20%), cervical tuberculosis lymphadenitis(10%), tuberculosis anal fistula(3%).
4) Laboratory finding that were mild to moderate anemia, lymphocytosis, elevated ESR and hypoalbuminemia, but these were not characteristic findings of intestinal tuberculosis.
5) Correct diagnosis was made in 12 patients(40%) prior to operation but intestinal tuberculosis suspected in 33% of patients by abdominal CT and sono, in 54% by barium study and in 91% by colonoscopic examination.
6) The frequent involved site were terminal ileum(73%), cecum(50%), ascending colon, transverse colon, appendix and duodenum in orderly.
7) The most of patients(91%) underwent resection the Involved intestine and anastomosis primarily.
8) The major copmplications were wound infection(7%), atelectasis(7%), postoperative adhesion(3%), sepsis(3%) and operative mortality rate was 3% due to multiple organ failure.
In conclusion Clinical and laboratory findings are not helpful to diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis but the patients who have history of pulmonary tuberculosis with gastrointestinal manifestations are suspicious of intestinal tuberculosis.
The diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis is very difficult and correct diagnosis rate is only 40% in this study. Colonofiberscopic examination and biopsy is very effective diagnostic method for intestinal tuberculosis.
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