Small Bowel Tuberculosis: Identifying the Incorrect Statement
This question asks to identify the statement that is incorrect regarding small bowel tuberculosis (TB). We need to evaluate each option based on the known characteristics of the disease.
- Option A: Correct. Small bowel TB is generally classified into two main pathological types: the ulcerative type and the hyperplastic type.
- Option B: Incorrect. This statement claims strictures are common in the ulcerative type. However, strictures, characterized by narrowing of the bowel lumen due to fibrosis and inflammation, are typically more characteristic of the hyperplastic form of small bowel TB, not the ulcerative form. The ulcerative type is more prone to complications like perforation or fistulas.
- Option C: Correct. In cases of ulcerative small bowel TB, especially when associated with peritoneal TB, the serosal surface of the bowel can indeed be observed to be studded with tubercles (small nodules).
- Option D: Correct. The ulcerative pattern of intestinal TB often arises when the infectious agent (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) is highly virulent, overwhelming the host's immune defenses, leading to tissue necrosis and ulceration.
Conclusion on Small Bowel TB Types
Based on the analysis, the statement claiming strictures are common in the ulcerative type is the exception. Strictures are more typically associated with the hyperplastic form of small bowel TB.