Infectious diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract are rare, but certain bacteria including Treponema pallidum and Mycobacterium tuberculosis may infect the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum even in an immunocompetent individual. Gastric syphilis is difficult to diagnose because it presents with non-specific symptoms and diverse endoscopic findings. Nevertheless, gastric syphilis should be considered in the differential diagnosis when a patient presents with chronic inflammatory gastric lesions such as multiple erosive/ulcerative lesions and stricture or with other evidence of syphilis. Histological evaluation and specific serological tests should be performed if syphilis is suspected. Esophageal and gastroduodenal tuberculosis also exhibits non-specific clinical manifestations. The diagnosis is confirmed by mucosal biopsy or aspiration cytology revealing the presence of caseating granulomata and/or acid-fast bacilli. Mycobacterial culture and polymerase chain reaction should be incorporated into routine diagnostic studies to improve the diagnostic sensitivity. The diagnosis of tuberculosis is occasionally confirmed indirectly by an excellent response of the patient to anti-tubercular therapy.
Bacteria ; Biopsy ; Communicable Diseases ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Duodenum ; Esophagus ; Humans ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Serologic Tests ; Stomach ; Syphilis ; Treponema pallidum ; Tuberculosis ; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract

Gastric tuberculosis accounts for approximately 2% of all cases of gastrointestinal tuberculosis. Diagnosis of gastric tuberculosis is challenging because it can present with various clinical, endoscopic, and radiologic features. Tuberculosis manifesting as a gastric subepithelial tumor is exceedingly rare; only several dozen cases have been reported. A 30-year-old male visited emergency room of our hospital with hematemesis and melena. Abdominal CT revealed a 2.5 cm mass in the gastric antrum, and endoscopy revealed a subepithelial mass with a visible vessel at its center on gastric antrum. Primary gastric tuberculosis was diagnosed by surgical wedge resection. We report a rare case of gastric tuberculosis mimicking a subepithelial tumor with acute gastric ulcer bleeding.
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Endoscopy ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hematemesis ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Male ; Melena ; Pyloric Antrum ; Stomach Ulcer ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis* ; Tuberculosis, Gastrointestinal

Abdominal computed tomography (CT) can noninvasively image the entire gastrointestinal tract and assess extraintestinal features that are important in differentiating Crohn's disease (CD) and intestinal tuberculosis (ITB). The present meta-analysis pooled the results of all studies on the role of CT abdomen in differentiating between CD and ITB. We searched PubMed and Embase for all publications in English that analyzed the features differentiating between CD and ITB on abdominal CT. The features included comb sign, necrotic lymph nodes, asymmetric bowel wall thickening, skip lesions, fibrofatty proliferation, mural stratification, ileocaecal area, long segment, and left colonic involvements. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios, and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were calculated for all the features. Symmetric receiver operating characteristic curve was plotted for features present in >3 studies. Heterogeneity and publication bias was assessed and sensitivity analysis was performed by excluding studies that compared features on conventional abdominal CT instead of CT enterography (CTE). We included 6 studies (4 CTE, 1 conventional abdominal CT, and 1 CTE+conventional abdominal CT) involving 417 and 195 patients with CD and ITB, respectively. Necrotic lymph nodes had the highest diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity, 23%; specificity, 100%; DOR, 30.2) for ITB diagnosis, and comb sign (sensitivity, 82%; specificity, 81%; DOR, 21.5) followed by skip lesions (sensitivity, 86%; specificity, 74%; DOR, 16.5) had the highest diagnostic accuracy for CD diagnosis. On sensitivity analysis, the diagnostic accuracy of other features excluding asymmetric bowel wall thickening remained similar. Necrotic lymph nodes and comb sign on abdominal CT had the best diagnostic accuracy in differentiating CD and ITB.
Abdomen ; Animals ; Colon ; Comb and Wattles ; Crohn Disease* ; Diagnosis ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Odds Ratio ; Population Characteristics ; Publication Bias ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis*

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic relapsing and remitting inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. CD is rare in Taiwan and other Asian countries, but its prevalence and incidence have been steadily increasing. A steering committee was established by the Taiwan Society of Inflammatory Bowel Disease to formulate statements on the diagnosis and management of CD taking into account currently available evidence and the expert opinion of the committee. Thorough clinical, endoscopic, and histological assessments are required for accurate diagnosis of CD. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are complementary to endoscopic evaluation for disease staging and detecting complications. The goals of CD management are to induce and maintain remission, reduce the risk of complications, and improve quality of life. Corticosteroids are the mainstay for inducing re-mission. Immunomodulating and biologic therapies should be used to maintain remission. Patients should be evaluated for hepatitis B virus and tuberculosis infection prior to treatment and receive regular surveillance for cancer. These consensus statements are based on current local evidence with consideration of factors, and could be serve as concise and practical guidelines for supporting clinicians in the management of patients with CD in Taiwan.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Biological Therapy ; Consensus* ; Crohn Disease* ; Diagnosis ; Disease Management ; Expert Testimony ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Prevalence ; Quality of Life ; Taiwan* ; Tuberculosis

BACKGROUNDTuberculosis (TB) remains a worldwide problem. Intestinal TB (ITB) constitutes a major public health problem in developing countries and has been associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to characterize the clinical, radiological, endoscopic, and pathological features of ITB and to define the strategy for establishing the diagnosis.

METHODSA retrospective study (from January 2000 to June 2015) was carried out in Peking Union Medical College Hospital and all hospitalized cases were diagnosed as ITB during the study period were included. The relevant clinical information, laboratory results, microbiological, and radiological investigations were recorded.

RESULTSOf the 85 cases, 61 cases (71.8%) were ranged from 20 to 50 years. The ileocecal region was involved in about 83.5% (71/85) of patients. About 41.2% (35/85) of patients had co-existing extra ITB, especially active pulmonary TB. Abdominal pain (82.4%) was the most common presenting symptom followed by weight loss (72.9%) and fever (64.7%). Both T-cell spot of TB test (T-SPOT.TB) and purified protein derivatives (PPD) tests were performed in 26 patients: 20 (76.9%) positive T-SPOT.TB and 13 (50.0%) positive PPD were detected, with a statistical significant difference (P = 0.046). Twenty cases (23.5%) were histopathology and/or pathogen confirmed TB; 27 cases (31.8%) were diagnosed by clinical manifestation consistent with ITB and evidence of active extra ITB; 38 cases (44.7%) were diagnosed by good response to diagnostic anti-TB therapy.

CONCLUSIONSITB is difficult to diagnose even with modern medical techniques due to its nonspecific clinical and laboratory features. At present, combination of clinical, endoscopic, radiological, and pathological features continues to be the key to the diagnosis of ITB.

Adult ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; methods ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peritonitis, Tuberculous ; diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis, Gastrointestinal ; diagnosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; diagnosis ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Adult ; Antineoplastic Agents/*adverse effects ; Antitubercular Agents/therapeutic use ; Biopsy ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors/*drug therapy/pathology/surgery ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate/*adverse effects ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial/*chemically induced/diagnosis ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/*isolation & purification ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors/*adverse effects ; Rectal Neoplasms/*drug therapy/pathology/surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/diagnosis/drug therapy/*microbiology

Gastrointestinal tuberculosis that is not an unusual form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis and it is usually associated with immunocompromised condition that may present with clinical symptoms including fever, weight loss or pain. Terminal ileum and cecum are the common sites of involvement, but involvement of the stomach is rare. Furthermore, synchronous tuberculosis involving both the stomach and lower gastrointestinal tract has been reported in very few cases. Herein, we report a case of incidentally detected synchronous tuberculosis involving both the stomach and terminal ileum that was successfully treated by antituberculosis therapy in an asymptomatic immunocompetent patient.
Adult ; Antitubercular Agents/therapeutic use ; Asymptomatic Infections ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Female ; Humans ; Intestine, Small/pathology ; Stomach/pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis, Gastrointestinal/*diagnosis/drug therapy

Obstructive jaundice caused by tuberculous lymphadenitis is a rare manifestation of tuberculosis (TB), with 15 cases having been reported in Korea. We experienced a case of obstructive jaundice caused by pericholedochal tuberculous lymphadenitis in a 30-year-old man. The patient's initial serum total bilirubin level was 21.1 mg/dL. Abdominal computed tomography revealed narrowing of the bile duct by a conglomerated soft-tissue mass involving the main portal vein. Abrupt obstruction of the common bile duct was observed on cholangiography. Pathologic analysis of a ultrasonography-guided biopsy sample revealed chronic granulomatous inflammation, and an endoscopic examination revealed esophageal varices and active duodenal ulceration, the pathology of which was chronic noncaseating granulomatous inflammation. Hepaticojejunostomy was performed and pathologic analysis of the conglomerated soft-tissue mass revealed chronic granulomatous inflammation with caseation of the lymph nodes. Tuberculous lymphadenitis should be considered in patients presenting with obstructive jaundice in an endemic area.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Bilirubin/blood ; Duodenal Ulcer/pathology ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Jaundice, Obstructive/*diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis, Lymph Node/*diagnosis ; Young Adult

Tuberculosis of the stomach is extremely rare. We report the case of a 38-year-old woman who presented with epigastric discomfort and a palpable mass that persisted for a period of one month. We also report our findings from the abdominal computed tomographic, upper endoscopic and endoscopic ultrasonographic examinations of the patient. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed the presence of a large mass with an irregularly contoured low attenuation lesion. Upper endoscopy and endoscopic ultrasonography revealed a protruding ulcerative mass with an ill-defined heteroechoic subepithelial lesion originating from the gastric submucosal layer. This was previously misdiagnosed as a gastrointestinal stromal tumour. Endoscopic biopsy specimen was positive on acid-fast bacillus staining, and polymerase chain reaction for Mycobacterium tuberculosis was also positive. Abdominal CT and endoscopy at the patient's three-month follow-up showed near complete resolution of the lesion.
Adult ; Antitubercular Agents ; therapeutic use ; Biopsy ; Diagnostic Errors ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; diagnosis ; Gastroscopy ; Humans ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; genetics ; Pain ; diagnosis ; Stomach ; microbiology ; physiopathology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis ; diagnosis ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of real-time fluorescent quantitative (qPCR) assay in detecting mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTB) in paraffin embedded tissues for diagnostic purpose.

METHODSUsing qPCR assay, 1000 consecutive formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissues (from 2011 to 2012) suspected of MTB infection were tested by amplifying the MTB specific insertion sequence 6110 (IS6110). The specificity of the PCR product was confirmed by Sanger sequencing as compared with the MTB genomic DNA of the IS6110 sequence. Tissues with Ziehl-Neelsen acid-fast staining were used as control.

RESULTSIn the 1000 samples, 513 were positive for mycobacterium by Ziehl-Neelsen acid-fast staining (detection rate 51.3%); whereas 546 were MTB positive by qPCR assay (detection rate 54.6%). Concordance rate for both assays was 73.1%. The diagnosis rate increased by 14.4% by combinination of Ziehl-Neelsen acid-fast staining and qPCR results. More interestingly, by analyzing the Ziehl-Neelsen acid-fast staining and qPCR results three cases of M.leprae infection and four cases of non-tuberculous Mycobacterium (NTM) infection were identified.

CONCLUSIONSqPCR detection of MTB in FFPE tissue is more sensitive than Ziehl-Neelsen acid-fast staining assay. Combination of these two assays can increase the detection rate and also identify some rare cases of NTM infection.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; DNA, Bacterial ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Paraffin Embedding ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Staining and Labeling ; methods ; Tuberculosis ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Tuberculosis, Gastrointestinal ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Tuberculosis, Lymph Node ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Young Adult