Imaging Findings of Acute Abdomen with Intraperitoneal Tuberculosis

ABSTRACT

Acute abdomen caused by abdominal tuberculosis is a rare manifestation, and includes bleeding of a gastric or ileal ulcer, obstruction of the small bowel by an adhesive band, perforation of the ileum, ileocolic intussusception and fistula, and mesenteric abscesses caused by necrotic lymph nodes. The clinical and radiologic features of these complicated tuberculosis may mimic other acute abdominal diseases. Although not definitive, careful evaluation of the radiologic findings of the bowel wall, mesenteric fat infiltration, and lymph node enlargement may provide useful diagnostic clues to the presence of acute abdomen due to tuberculosis.