Year 2018 / Volume 110 / Number 10
Review
Intestinal tuberculosis and Crohn’s disease: the importance and difficulty of a differential diagnosis

650-657

DOI: 10.17235/reed.2018.5184/2017

Esther Merino Gallego, Francisco Gallardo Sánchez, Francisco Javier Gallego Rojo,

Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) is the most prevalent infection worldwide and affects one third of the population, predominantly in developing countries. Intestinal TB (ITB) is the sixth most frequent extra-pulmonary TB infection. Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that arises from the interaction of immunological, environmental and genetic factors. Due to changes in the epidemiology of both diseases, distinguishing CD from ITB is a challenge, particularly in immunocompromised patients and those from areas where TB is endemic. Furthermore, both TB and CD have a predilection for the ileocecal area. In addition, they share very similar clinical, radiological and endoscopic findings. An incorrect diagnosis and treatment may increase morbidity and mortality. Thus, a great degree of caution is required as well as a familiarity with certain characteristics of the diseases, which will aid the differentiation between the two diseases.
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Merino Gallego E, Gallardo Sánchez F, Gallego Rojo F. Intestinal tuberculosis and Crohn’s disease: the importance and difficulty of a differential diagnosis. 5184/2017


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Publication history

Received: 22/07/2017

Accepted: 11/03/2018

Online First: 31/08/2018

Published: 01/10/2018

Article revision time: 229 days

Article Online First time: 405 days

Article editing time: 436 days


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