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. 2016 Sep 16;4(9):273–280. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v4.i9.273

Table 1.

Criteria of differential diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis vs Crohn’s disease[1-41]

Parameter Tuberculosis Crohn’s disease
Geographic predominance Asia, India, Pakistan Western regions, Saudi Arabia
Symptoms
Duration of symptoms Short (about 7 mo) Long (about 58 mo)
Abdominal pain 18%-90% 18%-90%
Acute abdomen 67% Rare
Weight loss 55%-80% 55%-80%
Anorexia 45% Frequent
Hematochezia 4%-18% 31%
Diarrhea 35%-55% 69% (bloody diarrhea)
Diarrhea alternating with constipation 38% Rare
Ascites Frequent Rare
Anemia 45%-64% Frequent
Fever 55%-69% 23%-45%
Night sweats 31% Rare
Intra-abdominal abscesses Frequent Frequent (fistula)
Perianal disease Rare Frequent (25%-50%)
Extra-intestinal disorders Pulmonary tuberculosis (60%), neuropathies (vitamin B12 deficiency) pyoderma gangrenosum, uveitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, aphthous stomatitis, arthritis, etc.
CT-scan Thickening of the ileocecal valve and of the medial wall of the cecum and a retracted, conical, and shrunken cecum Minimal and uniform intestinal wall thickening, mural stratification, vascular jejunization or the comb sign, mesenteric fibrofatty proliferation and skip lesions
Colonoscopy Transverse and rodent-like ulcers with a patulous ileocecal valve Longitudinal ulcers and a comb sign
Therapy
Medications Anti-TB agents (isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, streptomycin, ethambutol, etc.) Steroids anti-tumor-necrosis-factor agents (infliximab)
Surgery Laparoscopic-assisted ileocolectomies Usually open surgery

CT: Computed tomography; TB: Tuberculosis.