Gastrointestinal Imaging

Peritonitis, tuberculous

form of abdominal tuberculosis that, in addition to the parietal and visceral peritoneum, can involve the omentum, the intestinal tract, liver, spleen or genital female tract. Tuberculous peritonitis is usually associated with a primary tuberculous focus elsewhere, commonly in the lungs. Peritoneal infection by mycobacterium tuberculosis occurs most commonly by haematogeneous spread but may also follow tuberculous salpingitis or be caused by transmural spread from involved intestines. The most common clinical symptoms are low grade fever, weight loss and general malaise.

Plain films of the abdomen and barium studies show fixed and agglutinated bowel loops with changes in the outer contour due to serosal fibrosis. CT visualizes streaky infiltration of the omentum as well as thickened contrast-enhancing parietal peritoneum.

ALB