Abdominal tuberculosis: Demonstration of tubercle bacilli in tissues and experimental production of hyperplastic enteric lesions

Abstract

Material obtained from 35 cases of abdominal tuberculosis was studied and an attempt was made to demonstrate tubercle bacilli by special staining of histological sections, culture and guinea-pig inoculation. Acid fast bacilli could be demonstrated in 80 per cent of cases. The remaining cases were also possibly due to tuberculous infection because granulomas with Langhans's type of giant cells and caseation or calcification of lymph nodes were present. The bacilli were demonstrated in bowel tissue showing non-specific histology in 1 case. In 2 other cases with non-specific lesions in the bowel the bacilli were demonstrated in lymph nodes. Guinea-pig inoculation studies showed that hypertrophic lesions of the bowel with a non-specific type of reaction could develop after intraperitoneal injection of tubercular material. Although it cannot be said on the basis of this study that Crohn's disease is caused by tuberculous infection, it can be concluded that tuberculous infection can give rise to a Crohn's type of lesion.