Abstract

Patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease have a potential risk for developing colorectal cancer. Simultaneous occurrence of tuberculosis and colon cancer at the same segment of the colon has been reported; however, there is little causal relationship between the two disorders. The occurrence of tuberculosis and an adenocarcinoma at the same segment of the colon may lead to a histological misdiagnosis of either lesion. Furthermore, it may be difficult to determine the correct radiological cancer staging before surgery, as tuberculous lymphadenitis may be misinterpreted as a lymph node metastasis of colon cancer. We report here a rare case of colon cancer coexisting with colonic tuberculosis at the same segment of the colon. In addition, we review the clinical characteristics of reported patients with similar conditions following a computerized search of KoreaMed and PubMed. (Korean J Gastrointest Endosc 2008;37:369-373)

• Keywords: Colon cancer, Intestinal tuberculosis