ABDOMINAL TUBERCULOSIS IN QATAR - A CLINICORADIOLOGICAL STUDY

SETTING: Hamad General Hospital, the tertiary health centre for Doha, Qatar. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to define and correlate the role of radiology with clinical and pathological findings in abdo minal tuberculosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 59 patients (47 m ales and 12 females) diagnosed bacteriologically and/ or histologicall y for abdominal tuberculosis were radiologically assessed. Evaluation was based on the analysis of plain abdominal radiographs, gastro-intes tinal contrast studies (barium meal follow through and barium enema), ultrasonography and computed tomography. RESULTS: Plain abdominal radi ographs performed in 38 patients were positive in 19 cases (50%). Gast rointestinal contrast examinations were positive in 27 out of 34 cases (80%). Ultrasound examinations were abnormal in 25 out of 31 cases (8 1%), while computed tomography, performed in 24 patients, revealed abn ormal findings in 19 cases (80%). Combined radiographic and imaging pr ocedures revealed peritoneal involvement (ascites) in 16 patients (27% ), bowel involvement in 36 (61%), mass lesion in 11 (19%), lymphadenop athy in 13 (22%) and organ involvement in 13 (22%). CONCLUSION: There was no single radiological method that provided all necessary informat ion suggestive of abdominal tuberculosis. Although unequivocal diagnos is of abdominal tuberculosis can only be made by culture and histologi cal findings, combined computed tomography and ultrasound findings wer e the most important imaging tools in the diagnostic process for abdom inal tuberculosis, while contrast studies helped to assess the extent of bowel disease, hence influencing decisions concerning surgery.