SONOGRAPHIC FINDINGS OF INTESTINAL TUBERCULOSIS

Sonograms in 41 patients with intestinal tuberculosis were analyzed. T he sonographic findings of intestinal tuberculosis were thickening of the wall in the ileum, cecum, or ascending colon (or in more than one of these). We detected the wall thickening in 38 cases by sonography ( detection rate, 93%). The ileum was the most frequent site of involvem ent. The patterns of bowel wall thickening were diffuse in 30 cases an d focal in eight cases and were concentric in 28 cases and eccentric i n six cases. The associated findings were ascites, lymphadenopathy, om ental cake, and cecal spasm in order of decreasing frequency. The sono graphic findings are not specific for the diagnosis of intestinal tube rculosis, but when noted in the appropriate clinical situation would b e of great help in the diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis.