Inguinal hernia incarceration as a form of intestinal tuberculosis

Abstract

We report the case of a 41 year-old male who came to the emergency room with a complaint of abdominal pain, and was diagnosed to have an acute obstructive abdomen due to a right inguinal hernia incarceration. During surgery, an intestinal granulomatous inflammation was observed adhered to the hernial sac. The histopathologic study confirmed the diagnosis of tuberculosis. We present a review of the different clinical forms of intestinal tuberculosis and the difficulties encounted in the differential diagnosis of such, emphasizing the uncommon presentation described in our patient.

Abdominal tuberculosis in a spigelian hernia

“…Cases of abdominal tuberculosis presented with other types of abdominal hernias have been reported 8–14. In these cases, the tuberculosis presented as a thickening and nodulation of the hernia sac and in some with the presence of excessive peritoneal fluid.…”

Treatment of an incarcerated inguinal hernia associated with abdominal tuberculosis in an adult patient

“…The incidence of inguinal hernia is extremely rare in people with abdominal TB; only 11 cases have been reported in the English-language literature, half of which involved pediatric patients. 2 – 12…”

Surgical aspects of intestinal tuberculosis in children: Our experience

“…Few case reports are also available regarding presentation of intestinal TB as incarcerated inguinal hernia. [12] The diagnosis of intestinal TB depends upon various factors including history, clinical examination, ESR, Mantoux test, radiological, operative, and histological findings. History of long-term low-grade fever, weight loss, and chronic pain abdomen with associated alternating episodes of constipation and diarrhoea, and raised ESR pointed towards the clinical diagnosis of intestinal TB.…”