To report a rare case of rectal cancer with concurrent rectal and lymph node tuberculosis and highlight the diagnostic challenges and management complexities.
Key Findings:
Rectal cancer and intestinal tuberculosis can present with overlapping clinical symptoms, complicating diagnosis.
The patient had no lymph node metastasis but showed evidence of concurrent tuberculosis.
Postoperative complications included anal discharge and a suspected tuberculosis-related infection, which improved with treatment.
Interpretation:
The case highlights the diagnostic challenges in patients with a history of tuberculosis presenting with rectal cancer.
Limitations:
The case is based on a single patient, limiting generalizability.
The retrospective nature of the study may introduce biases.
Conclusion:
Concurrent rectal cancer and tuberculosis should be considered in patients with a history of tuberculosis.
