Vishal Sharma (editor) - Tuberculosis of the Gastrointestinal system

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Tuberculosis is a global problem but an issue of immense concern in the less developed world. While pulmonary tuberculosis has received appropriate attention, the nuances in the diagnosis and management of extrapulmonary tuberculosis have largely remained unaddressed. In this regard, Tuberculosis of Gastrointestinal Tuberculosis will fill a vacuum, there is hardly any book which deals with this important clinical condition. The diagnosis, even for the most experienced, is difficult because abdominal tuberculosis is largely a paucibacillary disease. Also, it closely mimics many conditions (Crohns disease, peritoneal carcinomatosis). The book in your hands has been created for the clinicians, providing detailed information on the clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation and therapeutic aspects. Discrimination from close mimics is dealt with in separate chapters. In addition, the book also elucidates the approach to follow-up patients while they are being treated for gastrointestinal tuberculosis.

We have attempted to organize the book systematically: with topics of general interest dealt with first, individual sites (luminal, peritoneal and visceral) in the further sections. This is followed by various evaluation techniques followed by management issues which one may encounter. There are separate chapters on imaging in intestinal and peritoneal tuberculosis. There are some chapters which are unique and there are virtually no prior reviews on these topics: differentiating peritoneal TB and carcinomatosis; role of endoscopic ultrasound and advanced nuclear medicine technology in such patients. These unique facets would make this a helpful book for clinicians, residents and students of medicine, gastroenterology, gastrointestinal surgery as also researchers interested in the field. For a clinician, the information would be priceless. The authors of various chapters have also taken care to make the information forward looking and therefore, we know what to expect in coming years in this field. I hope that you would enjoy reading the book as much as I enjoyed putting it together.

This project has had many supporters and well-wishers. Prof Deepak Bhasin, retired chief of gastroenterology at Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh and Prof Vineet Ahuja, Professor at AIIMS, New Delhi, introduced me to the field of gastrointestinal tuberculosis. Prof Vineet Ahuja also agreed to pen the most important chapter in the book on intestinal TB. One person responsible for this book coming out is Prof Aman Sharma, a renowned rheumatologist at PGIMER, Chandigarh. He was instrumental in removing all cobwebs in my mind regarding the feasibility of bringing this book out and also my sounding board for ideas and doubts. There are colleagues and friends who have contributed to the peer review of the chapters (Prof Kaushal K Prasad, Professor of GI Histopathology, PGIMER; Dr Gaurav Muktesh, Consultant at NMC Healthcare in Dubai; Dr Anupam K Singh, Assistant Professor at PGIMER, Chandigarh; Dr. Manoj Gupta, Consultant, Nuclear Medicine Department, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre, Delhi) to whom I am grateful. I received total support from Prof Rakesh Kochhar, ex-HoD of Gastroenterology at PGIMER, Chandigarh at all times and he also advised in choice of topics for the book. The support provided by the Springer team has been wonderful and I must thank Kumar Athiappan, the project coordinator for the efforts taken in making this work see light.