A Retrospective Cohort Study of Coexistence of Carcinoma and Tuberculosis of Colon: 12-Year Experience.

Coexistence of carcinoma colon and tuberculosis is rare. The aim of this study is to present our 12-year experience on colonic carcinoma with coexisting colonic TB. Histopathology and imaging records of 189 patients of colonic carcinoma patients who underwent treatment in surgical unit 6 in our institute between January 2006 and December 2017 were reviewed. In 7 patients, histopathology and/or imaging studies were suggestive of coexistence of colonic carcinoma and tuberculosis. Fifteen cases of colonic tuberculosis were also reviewed. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. Colonoscopic biopsy was suggestive of only malignant lesion in 6 cases and coexistence of TB and carcinoma in 1 case. The duration of symptoms spanned between 2 and 7 weeks. Anorexia and weight loss were the predominant symptoms. Colonoscopic biopsy was suggestive of only malignant lesion in 6 cases and coexistence of TB and carcinoma in 1 case. The morbidity was low and there was no surgery associated mortality. Clinical awareness and advancement in diagnostic studies and improvement in management strategies may guide and lead to early diagnosis, optimum therapeutic guidelines and thus improved outcome.