RESUMO
Seventeen cases of abdominal tuberculosis were seen over a period of thirteen years in the surgical units of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. There were 9 males and 8 females and their ages ranged from 15 to 60 years with a median age of 38.9 years. There were 7 cases of tuberculous mesentric lymphadenitis; 3 of gastric tuberculosis; 2 each of tuberculous peritonitis and ileo-ccaecal tuberculosis fistula-in-ano. The common presenting clinical faetures were abdominal pain; fever; vomiting; weight loss; abdominal distension and abdominal mass which were not always diagnostic. Laparotomy was mostly used to obtain tissues for diagnosis in which there was histological confirmation of tuberculosis in all 17 cases and positive bacterial examination in only 5 patients. [abstract terminated]