G25

COLON - Tuberculosis

Description
This is a short length of large intestine, showing extensive transverse ulceration with, however, no clear indication of serosal involvement. The ulcers are shallow and, in general, oval in outline; the base of each is granular and shaggy.
History
A man, whose wife suffered pulmonary tuberculosis, had a history of weight loss for 5 months, with intermittent colicky abdominal pain. He had a melaena on one occasion. The bowels were loose, but regular. Examination showed much wasting, pallor, asthenia and abdominal tenderness. An X-ray of the lung showed a shadow at the right apex, and the sputum contained tubercle bacilli. The patient's condition deteriorated, and he died within 4 months of admission.