A patient with a fulminant amebic colitis coexisting with intestinal tuberc
ulosis had a sudden onset of crampy abdominal pain, mucoid diarrhea, anorex
ia, fever and vomiting with signs of positive peritoneal irritation. Fulmin
ant amebic colitis occurring together with intestinal tuberculosis is an un
common event and may present an interesting patho-etiological relationship.
The diagnosis was proven by histopathologic examination of resected specim
en. Subtotal colectomy including segmental resection of ileum, about 80 cm
in length, followed by exteriorization of both ends, was performed in an em
ergency basis. Despite ail measures, the patient died on the sixth postoper
ative day. The exact relationship of fulminant amebic colitis and intestina
l tuberculosis is speculative but the possibility of a cause and effect rel
ationship exists. Fulminant amebic colitis may readily be confused with oth
er types of inflammatory bower disease, such as idiopathic ulcerative colit
is, Crohn's disease, perforated diverticulitis and appendicitis with perfor
ation. This report draws attention to the resurgence of tuberculosis and am
ebiasis in Korea, and the need for the high degree of caution required to d
etect it.