Perianal disease of tuberculous origin - Report of a case and review of the literature

PURPOSE: A case of anal tuberculosis in an otherwise asymptomatic patient w ith bleeding anal ulcers is presented. The clinical features of this entity and the problems in differential diagnosis between anal infectious vs. inf lammatory diseases are discussed. METHODS: The management and outcome of th e case of an adult patient who presented with perianal ulcers is described. RESULTS: On a three-drug antituberculous regimen, symptoms abated, radiogr aphic infiltrates improved, and perianal ulcers healed. CONCLUSION: Anal tu berculosis is an extremely rare disease. A tuberculous origin must be consi dered when the cause of perianal ulcers is unclear to avoid undesirable del ays in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.