OBJECTIVE: To analyze the modes of presentation and diagnostic issues in the management of @entity378 at a tertiary care hospital in a developing country, where most of the established diagnostic modalities are available. SETTING: The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. METHODS: This study is a retrospective review of medical records of all inpatients, diagnosed to have @entity378 , from January 1991 to December 1997. The data was collected and particularly analyzed for spectrum of presentation and role of various diagnostic modalities. Of special interest was the sub-group of @entity1 , who after all investigations did not have a firm diagnosis. Following a literature review recommendations have been developed for empiric antituberculous therapy in such @entity1 . RESULTS: A total of 135 @entity1 were diagnosed to have @entity378 with a mean age of 34 years and a male to female ratio of 1:2. Ninety-six (71%) @entity1 presented with chronic abdominal symptoms, while 39 (29%) presented as an acute surgical emergency mandating exploratory laparotomy. A tissue-based diagnosis was established in 95 (70.30%) @entity1 , while radiological diagnosis was made in 30 (22.2%) @entity1 . In 10 (7.4%) @entity1 all investigations undertaken could not reveal a final diagnosis; these were treated empirically on the basis of a strong clinical suspicion. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of @entity378 can be made confidently in most of the cases. There may be a small group of @entity1 where diagnosis cannot be made despite appropriate investigations and a therapeutic trial of ATT may be considered with close monitoring according to a pre-fixed protocol.

Diagnostic issues in XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity378 :: ('MESH:D014376', 'Disease') :: ['abdominal tuberculosis']
@entity378 :: (MESH:D014376,Disease) :: ['abdominal tuberculosis']
