OBJECTIVE Reports suggest that the rates of tuberculosis (TB) continue to rise in the UK and throughout the world. The spread of the disease is aided by poverty, overcrowding, co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus and drug resistance. Consistent with the overall trend, intra-abdominal and gastrointestinal (GI) TB rates are rising. Tuberculosis is a treatable disease, whether occurring in the lungs or at extra-pulmonary sites but the nonspecific features of the disease result in difficulty in establishing a diagnosis. In this report, we have concentrated on the benefits and potential pitfalls of diagnostic methods. METHODS A literature review was performed using the National Library of Medicine's Pubmed Database using the keywords diagnosis, management, abdominal and GI TB. RESULTS Abdominal TB presents a particular challenge, as the diverse features of the disease do not readily suggest a particular diagnosis and diagnostic delays lead to significant morbidity and mortality. A number of investigative methods have been used to aid in the diagnosis of abdominal and GI TB. CONCLUSIONS The nonspecific presentation of abdominal and GI TB present challenges in the diagnosis of this increasingly common disease. A high index of suspicion is an important factor in early diagnosis. After a diagnosis has been established, prompt initiation of treatment helps prevent morbidity and mortality.