ILEOCECAL TUBERCULOSIS - 27 CASE-HISTORIE S

The authors report a retrospective study of 27 cases of ''ileo-caecal tuberculosis'' collected over a period of 10-years, Sixteen women and eleven men, between 14 and 55 years of age (with a group mean age of 2 8 years), were included. This is still a common disease in Morocco, de spite attempts to achieve universal BCG vaccination. Diarrhoea, abdomi nal pain and a general physical deterioration are the most indicative signs, but are not specific. Tests for M. tuberculosis hominis are oft en negative, except in cases in which bacteria proliferate in pulmonar y excavations, and this makes it difficult to establish a definite dia gnosis. The detection of narrowing of the ileum or colon in a country where infection is endemic suggests the possibility of tuberculosis. C olonoscopy, which is becoming increasingly widespread in Morocco, make s an essential contribution. Although it is rare for caseum to be dete cted in biopsy fragments, the main value of histopathology is that it can eliminate cancer, making it possible to start antibacterial treatm ent without a diagnostic laparotomy. The outcome of medical treatment is nearly always positive. clinical improvement, bacteriology tests an d X-ray examinations are criteria that a cure has been obtained.