ABSTRACT
Introduction: Tuberculosis is a major health problem in developing countries. Abdominal tuberculosis is not an uncommon manifestation of extra pulmonary tuberculosis. Recognition of its usual and unusual findings is important for diagnosis of the disease. Material and Methods: This retrospective study involved 150 abdominal tuberculosis patients over a period of 5 years in rural & urban population of Nashik district in Maharashtra. Abdominal ultrasound using Siemens (Accuson X500) and Philips HD 11 with convex & linear probes was done to find out the intestinal and extraintestinal disease involvement and appearances. Results: Abdominal tuberculosis was found to be more common in rural population and had a slight female predominance. In extraintestinal involvement; ascites was found in 44% cases, peritoneal thickening was found in 15 % cases, tubercles were found in 5% cases and thick swollen mesentery in 7% cases. Lymphadenopathy was seen in 47% cases. In intestinal involvement, isolated bowel wall thickening (30%), bowel ulceration (3%), bowel lump with pseudo kidney appearance (11%), matting and clumping of bowel loops (16.5%) and complex bowel mass (8.5%) were seen. Some of the unusual patterns like “club sandwich appearance” (11%) and “multilayered sandwich appearance”(2%) were also seen. Conclusion: Because of nonspecific symptoms abdominal Tuberculosis is mostly under diagnosed or misdiagnosed for chronic acidity, gastritis /colitis or chronic appendicitis. Knowledge of both usual and unusual findings is essential to diagnose abdominal tuberculosis. Hence abdominal ultrasound should be used as a primary cost effective screening modality for diagnosis which helps in management of abdominal tuberculosis.