SYNCHRONOUS INTESTINAL, TONSILLAR AND PUL MONARY TUBERCULOSIS

Objetives: To emphasize the unusual synchronous presentation of intest inal, pulmonary and tonsillar tuberculosis in the same patient, Clinic al case: A 43 years old male consults for abdominal pain and alternati ng episodes of diarrhoea-constipation. Based on radiologic, endoscopic and pathologic studies the diagnosis of Crohn's ileo-cecal disease is achieved and a treatement with salazosulphapyridine and corticosteroi d is started, Two months later the patient presents with a tonsilar ul ceration that is diagnosed as tuberculosis on biopsy material, At the same time, chest x-rays film reveal active tuberculous lesions, and tu berculous bacili are seen in the sputum, Simultaneously the intestinal disease worsens and complicates with incomplete occlusion that requir es a rigth hemicolectomy. Pathologic study of the specimen shows evide nt tuberculous lesions. Specific treatment for tuberculosis is started , and the patient remains free of disease one year later. Conclusions: Due to the increase in the prevalence of tuberculous diseases, we mus t keep it in mind in the differential diagnosis of intestinal strictur es, even though they are suggestive of Crohn's disease, and a radical surgical procedure must also be evaluated.