Abstract
Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global health challenge, especially in developing regions. Abdominal tuberculosis, a form of extrapulmonary TB, poses diagnostic difficulties due to nonspecific symptoms overlapping with other conditions. Imaging techniques like MDCT and MRI have become crucial tools for diagnosing abdominal TB. This study compares the diagnostic effectiveness of these two methods.
Objectives: To compare Multidetector Computed Tomography (MDCT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) findings in Abdominal Tuberculosis.
Materials and methods: A cross sectional study was carried out over a period of twenty-four months in the Department of Radiodiagnosis, in collaboration with Department of Medicine and Surgery. Patients who met the clinical criteria were clinically examined, and their age, sex and clinical profiles were noted. All the patients were then subjected to imaging evaluation using USG, MDCT and MRI to diagnose abdominal tuberculosis. Diagnostic efficacy of MDCT and MRI were analysed against final diagnosis using FNAC/Biopsy, Ascitic fluid AFB positivity, Ascitic fluid culture positivity and on basis of positive therapeutic response to ATT treatment.
Results: MDCT was 82.9% sensitive and 76.5% specific, while MRI was 88.6% sensitive and 82.4% specific in diagnosis abdominal tuberculosis. Diagnostic accuracy using MCDCT alone was found out to be ~ 80.8% and that using MRI alone was found out to be ~ 86.5%.
Conclusion: The study highlights that both MDCT and MRI are highly sensitive in diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis but MRI has a diagnostic edge over MDCT in the same.