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. 2009 Nov 18:3:132.
doi: 10.1186/1752-1947-3-132.

Cecum perforation due to tuberculosis in a renal transplant recipient: a case report

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Cecum perforation due to tuberculosis in a renal transplant recipient: a case report

Sinan Carkman et al. J Med Case Rep. .

Abstract

Introduction: Tuberculosis can present in many varied clinical situations in immunosuppressed patients. It has been reported that the sigmoid colon is the most common site for colonic perforation in renal transplant recipients and diverticulitis is its most common cause. Cecal perforation because of tuberculosis is extremely rare in a renal transplant recipient. We present the case of a renal transplant patient with cecal perforation due to tuberculosis, 10 years after renal transplantation.

Case presentation: A 39-year-old Caucasian man, who was a renal transplant recipient, was admitted to our emergency surgery unit with an acute abdomen. A cecal perforation was found at exploratory laparotomy, and a right hemicolectomy with an end ileostomy and transverse colonic mucous fistula were performed. Necrotizing granulomatous colitis due to tuberculosis was reported in the histopathologic examination.

Conclusion: Colonic perforations in immunosuppressed patients may have unusual presentations and unusual causes. Tuberculosis infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis during the histopathologic evaluation in immunocompromised patients such as renal transplant recipients.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Intra-abdominal free air identified on abdominal computed tomography scan.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Macroscopic view of the specimen. The cecal perforation is shown with an instrument (AC: ascending colon, C: cecum, A: appendix, DI: distal ileum).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Arrows indicate the tuberculosis bacilli in the colonic mucosa stained with Ziehl-Neelsen dye.

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