Tuberculosis Mimicking Metastatic Colon Cancer: A Case Report and Literature Review
Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) infection is known as a great mimicker. Although its primary site is the lungs, it can affect any organ and present with varied manifestations. Intestinal TB represents approximately 3-5% of extrapulmonary TB and can manifest as any gastrointestinal condition with non...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Spanish |
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Universidad de Antioquia
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Iatreia |
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| Online Access: | https://revistas.udea.edu.co/index.php/iatreia/article/view/353835 |
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| author | Romero-Moreno, Katherine Cardenas-Velasquez, Andres Felipe |
| author_facet | Romero-Moreno, Katherine Cardenas-Velasquez, Andres Felipe |
| author_sort | Romero-Moreno, Katherine |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) infection is known as a great mimicker. Although its primary site is the lungs, it can affect any organ and present with varied manifestations. Intestinal TB represents approximately 3-5% of extrapulmonary TB and can manifest as any gastrointestinal condition with nonspecific symptoms. This underscores the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion in endemic regions such as Colombia. The main differential diagnoses include inflammatory bowel diseases, other infectious diseases, and neoplasms.
Objectives: To describe, through a clinical case, how tuberculosis can mimic other diseases such as cancer.
Methods: We present the case of a patient with progressive abdominal pain, weight loss, and changes in bowel habits. Abdominal computed tomography revealed ileocecal thickening and pulmonary images suggestive of infectious versus metastatic involvement, leading to suspicion of advanced colonic neoplasia. Biopsies of the lung, pleura, and ileum yielded positive results for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and ruled out malignancy. Anti-tuberculosis therapy was initiated with good initial response; however, the patient died two months later due to respiratory complications.
Conclusions: In countries with high TB prevalence, it should always be considered as a differential diagnosis in the presence of nonspecific gastrointestinal manifestations or when other studies are inconclusive. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ea80ea2a2e1247989287054260878165 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0121-0793 2011-7965 |
| language | Spanish |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Universidad de Antioquia |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Iatreia |
| spelling | doaj-art-ea80ea2a2e12479892870542608781652025-08-20T02:27:18ZspaUniversidad de AntioquiaIatreia0121-07932011-79652025-04-0138234134810.17533/udea.iatreia.298Tuberculosis Mimicking Metastatic Colon Cancer: A Case Report and Literature ReviewRomero-Moreno, Katherine0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9396-9301Cardenas-Velasquez, Andres Felipe1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8661-6030Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, ColombiaUniversidad de Antioquia, Medellín, ColombiaIntroduction: Tuberculosis (TB) infection is known as a great mimicker. Although its primary site is the lungs, it can affect any organ and present with varied manifestations. Intestinal TB represents approximately 3-5% of extrapulmonary TB and can manifest as any gastrointestinal condition with nonspecific symptoms. This underscores the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion in endemic regions such as Colombia. The main differential diagnoses include inflammatory bowel diseases, other infectious diseases, and neoplasms. Objectives: To describe, through a clinical case, how tuberculosis can mimic other diseases such as cancer. Methods: We present the case of a patient with progressive abdominal pain, weight loss, and changes in bowel habits. Abdominal computed tomography revealed ileocecal thickening and pulmonary images suggestive of infectious versus metastatic involvement, leading to suspicion of advanced colonic neoplasia. Biopsies of the lung, pleura, and ileum yielded positive results for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and ruled out malignancy. Anti-tuberculosis therapy was initiated with good initial response; however, the patient died two months later due to respiratory complications. Conclusions: In countries with high TB prevalence, it should always be considered as a differential diagnosis in the presence of nonspecific gastrointestinal manifestations or when other studies are inconclusive.https://revistas.udea.edu.co/index.php/iatreia/article/view/353835case reportscolonic neoplasmsgeneral surgeryinfectious disease medicinetuberculosis gastrointestinal |
| spellingShingle | Romero-Moreno, Katherine Cardenas-Velasquez, Andres Felipe Tuberculosis Mimicking Metastatic Colon Cancer: A Case Report and Literature Review Iatreia case reports colonic neoplasms general surgery infectious disease medicine tuberculosis gastrointestinal |
| title | Tuberculosis Mimicking Metastatic Colon Cancer: A Case Report and Literature Review |
| title_full | Tuberculosis Mimicking Metastatic Colon Cancer: A Case Report and Literature Review |
| title_fullStr | Tuberculosis Mimicking Metastatic Colon Cancer: A Case Report and Literature Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tuberculosis Mimicking Metastatic Colon Cancer: A Case Report and Literature Review |
| title_short | Tuberculosis Mimicking Metastatic Colon Cancer: A Case Report and Literature Review |
| title_sort | tuberculosis mimicking metastatic colon cancer a case report and literature review |
| topic | case reports colonic neoplasms general surgery infectious disease medicine tuberculosis gastrointestinal |
| url | https://revistas.udea.edu.co/index.php/iatreia/article/view/353835 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT romeromorenokatherine tuberculosismimickingmetastaticcoloncanceracasereportandliteraturereview AT cardenasvelasquezandresfelipe tuberculosismimickingmetastaticcoloncanceracasereportandliteraturereview |