Tuberculous anal sepsis: report of clinical features in 20 cases

Diagnosis of anorectal tuberculosis by polymerase chain reaction, GeneXpert and histopathology in 1336 samples in 776 anal fistula patients

BACKGROUND

The association of tuberculosis (TB) with anal fistulas can make its treatment quite difficult. The main challenge is timely detection of TB in anal fistulas and its proper management. There is little data available on diagnosis and management of TB in anal fistulas.

AIM

To detect TB in fistula-in-ano patients were analyzed in different methods utilized.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of different methods, polymerase chain-reaction (PCR), GeneXpert and histopathology (HPE), utilized to detect tuberculosis in fistula-in-ano patients, treated between 2014-2020, was performed. The sampling was done for tissue (fistula tract lining) and pus (when available). The detection rate of various tests to detect TB and prevalence rate of TB in simple vs complex fistulae were studied.

RESULTS

In 1336 samples (776 patients) tested, TB was detected in 133 samples (122 patients). TB was detected in 52/703 (7.4%) samples tested by PCR-tissue, in 77/331 (23.2%) samples tested by PCR-pus, 3/197 (1.5%) samples tested with HPE-tissue and 1/105 (0.9%) samples tested by GeneXpert. To detect TB, PCR-tissue was significantly better than HPE-tissue (52/703 vs 3/197 respectively) (P = 0.0012, significant, Fisher’s exact test) and PCR-pus was significantly better than PCR-tissue (77/331 vs 52/703 respectively) (P < 0.00001, significant, Fisher’s exact test). TB fistulas were more complex than non-tuberculous fistulas [78/113 (69%) vs 278/727 (44.3%) respectively] (P < 0.00001, significant, Fisher’s exact test) but the overall healing rate was similar in tuberculous and non-tuberculous fistula groups [90/102 (88.2%) vs 518/556 (93.2%) respectively] (P = 0.10, not significant, Fisher’s exact test).

CONCLUSION

This is the largest study of anorectal TB to be published. The detection of TB by polymerase chain-reaction was significantly higher than by histopathology and GeneXpert. Amongst polymerase chain-reaction, pus had a higher detection rate than tissue. TB fistulas were more complex than non-tuberculous fistulas but aggressive diagnosis and meticulous treatment led to comparable overall success rates in both groups.

Perianal Tuberculosis: Lessons Learned in 57 Patients From 743 Samples of Histopathology and Polymerase Chain Reaction and a Systematic Review of Literature

BACKGROUND

Few data are published on perianal tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine the best method to diagnose tuberculosis in patients with fistula-in-ano and to conduct a systematic review to determine the incidence and characteristics of tuberculosis fistula-in-ano.

DATA SOURCES

The prospective study data and existing literature were derived from PubMed, Google scholar, and Scopus STUDY SELECTION:: Prospective analysis of patients with tuberculous fistula-in-ano treated between 2014 and 2018 was conducted, and a systematic review of studies describing ≥3 patients with tuberculosis fistula-in-ano was completed.

INTERVENTION

Testing of tuberculosis was performed by histopathology or polymerase chain reaction of tissue or pus from the fistula tract.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcomes measured were the detection rate of various tests to detect tuberculosis in fistula-in-ano and the prevalence rate of tuberculosis in simple versus complex fistulas.

RESULTS

In 637 samples (410 patients) tested, tuberculosis was detected in 49 samples (43 patients). Additional samples (n = 106) sent in patients with a high index of suspicion tested positive in 14 more patients. Thus, overall, 63 samples tested positive in 57 patients (total: 743 samples in 410 patients were tested). Tuberculosis was detected in 2 of 181 patients (1.1%) in tissue (histopathology), in 28 of 341 patients (8.2%) in tissue (polymerase chain reaction), and in 19 of 115 patients (16.5%) in pus (polymerase chain reaction) samples. To detect tuberculosis, tissue (polymerase chain reaction) was significantly better than tissue (histopathology) (28/341 vs 2/181, p < 0.00001) and pus (polymerase chain reaction) was significantly better than tissue (polymerase chain reaction) (19/115 vs 28/341, p < 0.0009). Tuberculosis was significantly more common in complex fistulas than in simple fistulas (20.3% vs 7.2%, p = 0.0002). The systematic review (n = 199) highlighted that tubercular fistulas are more common in recurrent and complex fistulas and in tuberculosis endemic regions.

LIMITATIONS

The true sensitivity and specificity of each testing modality could not be determined because not all patients with tuberculosis fistula-in-ano were tested by every diagnostic modality studied.

CONCLUSIONS

The tuberculosis detection rate of polymerase chain reaction was significantly higher than histopathology. Among polymerase chain reaction, pus had higher detection rate than tissue. Tuberculosis was associated with more complex and recurrent fistulas.

Clinical Features of Tuberculous Versus Crohn's Anal Fistulas, in Korea

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

In Western countries, tuberculous anal fistula may not be an issue because tuberculosis [TB] is not common, and this is a very rare form of extrapulmonary manifestation of TB. However in TB-endemic countries, careful diagnostic differentiation is required because the clinical features of TB anal fistula and Crohn's disease [CD] anal fistula are similar, with distinguishing features remaining unclear. We aimed to analyse the clinical features of TB versus CD anal fistulas.

METHOD

Among 13872 patients who underwent anal fistula surgery from 2003 to 2014, 87 patients with TB fistulas and 116 patients with CD fistulas were included. Data on the annual incidence of TB and CD, as well as the clinical, pathological, ultrasonographic, colonoscopic and surgical data were analysed.

RESULTS

Compared with CD, the TB group was older [median: 37 vs 22 years] and underlying chronic illness was more common [20.3% vs 2.6%]. In the TB group, 46 patients [59.7%] showed active or inactive pulmonary TB, and acid-fast bacilli and caseating granuloma were found in 56.3% and 62.1%, respectively. During colonoscopy, mucosal lesions were observed more frequently in CD [96.9% vs 16.9%].

CONCLUSIONS

TB anal fistula is clinically very similar to CD anal fistula. In Korea, the incidence of CD anal fistula has recently increased in prevalence, whereas the prevalence of TB anal fistula is decreasing but is still persistent. We recommend that clinicians should prepare for a possibility of TB as well as CD anal fistula in TB-endemic countries including Korea.

Perianal tuberculosis: A case report and review of the literature

Tuberculosis (TB) is still a major health problem worldwide. We present a rare case of an immuno-competent patient with perianal TB. A 38-year-old man visited a clinic with pain, swelling, and redness in the perineum. He had been persistently coughing for the past 6 mo. The abscess had formed a fistula to the perianal region, indicating perianal abscess. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was found in sputum and perianal abscess. Surgical drainage was performed, and oral anti-tuberculous drugs were administered for 6 mo. The patient’s clinical course was favorable. On review of the literature on 58 cases of perianal TB, we found that the duration of persistent perianal lesion was much longer in patients without active pulmonary TB (APTB) than in those with APTB (66.4 mo vs 8.3 mo; confidence interval, 0.0760-0.9620, P = 0.0380). Thus, in cases of non-healing or recurrent perianal lesions, TB should be considered.

The space between: a supralevator abscess caused by perforated diverticulitis

Supralevator abscesses are the rarest manifestation of anorectal suppurative disease. We report a supralevator abscess in a 60-year-old male whose earliest presentation included poorly localized abdominal and pelvic pain, tenesmus, urinary retention and weight loss, initially treated as diverticular disease based upon imaging and presentation. Progressive symptoms led to the discovery of a pelvic abscess with subsequent percutaneous drainage, later followed by emergent laparotomy, where a single perforated diverticulum was revealed to be the source fistulization. He underwent a Hartmann procedure with concomitant drainage of supralevator and ischiorectal collections. Perirectal pain with neurological involvement is part of a constellation of signs and symptoms that should invoke a high index of clinical suspicion for supralevator abscess formation. Percutaneous attempts at drainage are often inadequate; definitive surgical therapy is the best approach to prevent recurrence and associated morbidity.

Supralevator fistula-in-ano in tuberculosis

AIM

Perianal Mycobacterium tuberculosis is rare, but tuberculosis (TB) is now endemic in many areas of the world. It is essential to recognize TB to institute appropriate management. We report three cases of TB presenting with supralevator abscess.

METHOD

We analysed the outcomes of three patients who presented to our unit, from 2004 to 2009, with supralevator abscess caused by TB.

RESULTS

The patients presented as emergencies with symptoms of per-anal sepsis. All required multiple drainage procedures. Supralevator extension was confirmed clinically and radiologically (by magnetic resonance imaging in two patients and by computed tomography scanning in one patient). One patient was diagnosed by perianal biopsy, the second by culture of pus and the third by sputum culture. Following drainage, all three patients were given anti-TB medication for 6 months. In all patients, the fistulae had high communication with the anal canal. In one patient, local drainage and medical therapy led to sepsis resolution, the second patient has residual complex fistulae and the third patient has recently commenced antimicrobial therapy.

CONCLUSION

As TB is endemic in many parts of Europe, TB should be suspected in patients with complex and/or recurrent perianal sepsis. Samples for histological and bacteriological analyses should be obtained from these patients. Recurrent perianal drainage procedures are likely to be required, and sepsis may persist after anti-TB therapy.

Ano-perianal tuberculosis--solving a clinical dilemma

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis is one of the causes of granulomatous disease within the anorectal region. The clinical features, which include symptoms and signs of anal pain or discharge, multiple or recurrent fistula in ano and inguinal lymphadinopathy, are not characteristically distinct from other anal lesions. It is also difficult to distinguish it from other granulomatous diseases involving the same area.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A Medline database was used to perform a literature search for articles relating to the term 'anal', 'tuberculosis' and 'Koch's'.

CONCLUSION

Analysis of the available literature shows that Koch's lesion in and around the anus is not uncommon. The presentation is varied in nature and tuberculosis should be suspected in lesions not responding to the conventional approaches. The treatment is two-fold: surgical for the suppuration and medical for the tuberculosis.

[No ordinary anal fistula...]

We present the case of a 63 year-old male Swiss patient with chronic diarrhea, mucous anal discharge, anal fistula, chronic anal ulceration and history of tuberculosis 56 years ago. Imaging and endoscopy was highly suspicious for Crohn's Disease, but histology and culture for M. tuberculosis proved tuberculous proctitis with perianal involvement and fistulation. The consideration of extrapulmonal tuberculosis with its various manifestations is crucial for the investigation of chronic abdominal complaints in order to avoid serious consequences of tuberculosis treated with immunosuppressive therapy.

Abcès tuberculeux de la marge anale

Gastrointestinal tuberculosis represents 1% of extrapulmonary tuberculoses and only sporadic cases of anal tuberculosis have been reported in the literature. We report two cases of tuberculous anal abscess and a review of the literature for diagnosis and treatment.