Abstract
In an 81-year-old woman, para-aortic lymphadenopathy and a tumor in the descending colon (DC) was detected using abdominal computed tomography (CT) 6 months after laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy. The patient lost weight because of malnutrition. Colonoscopy revealed that a circumferential tumor was causing total occlusion. Chest CT and gastroduodenal fiberscopy were performed, but no abnormal findings were observed. Although we could not obtain a preoperative pathological diagnosis, we performed laparoscopy-assisted partial resection of the DC. The tumor was pathologically diagnosed as an active mycobacterial infection. Elderly patients may develop active tuberculosis from latent infection because of the prevalence of mycobacteria in Japan. It is difficult to diagnose extrapulmonary tuberculosis without respiratory infection because there are no specific symptoms. We conclude that it is important to consider abdominal extrapulmonary tuberculosis in elderly patients, especially when they present with abdominal tumors and malnutrition.
