Cervical atypical mycobacterial lymphadenitis in childhood: findings on sonography

PURPOSE

To describe the sonographic appearance of cervical lymph nodes in twelve children with histopathologically confirmed atypical mycobacterial lymphadenitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sonography of cervical lymph nodes was performed with a real-time linear scanner using a 13 MHz probe. Sonographic findings were retrospectively reviewed in 9 girls and 3 boys age 1.7 to 10.7 years (median age, 3.7 years), with cervical lymphadenopathy at initial presentation.

RESULTS

Strong echoes within the lymph nodes were found in 4 (33 %) of the children, corresponding to calcifications on histopathological examination. Loss of regular nodal shape with circumscript polypoid spread of nodal masses into the subcutaneous tissue was found in 6 (50 %) patients; at least 1 of these 2 features was noted in 10 (83 %) of our 12 patients. At surgery, abscess formation was found in 8 (67 %) children.

CONCLUSION

When nodal calcifications and spread of nodal masses into the subcutaneous tissue are found in patients with cervical lymphadenopathy, the examiner should maintain a high level of clinical suspicion for atypical mycobacterial lymphadenitis. Contrary to other causes of cervical lymphadenopathy, total surgical excision is the treatment of choice. Identification of these patients prior to surgery is therefore of utmost importance. Our data suggest that sonography could serve as an easy non-invasive method for this purpose.

[Clinical characteristics and management of primary cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical characteristics and management of primary cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis.

METHOD

Thirty-two patients with primary cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis were reported, of which four patients were diagnosed definitely by fine needle aspiration cytology, twenty-eight patients were diagnosed definitely by incisional or excisional biopsy. Twenty-nine patients have been examined by computer tomography (CT) before biopsy. Twenty-seven patients got anti tuberculosis therapy for six months after the total masses resection or regional cervical lymph node dissection, while the others got general anti tuberculosis chemotherapy for one year.

RESULT

CT showed the iso-density enhancement or heterogeneous enhancement of the masses. All patients were followed up. After anti tuberculosis therapy for three months, one patient was diagnosed as cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis combined with cervical lymph node metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and treated by radiotherapy in the department of oncology, the other thirty-one patients had no relapse and other manifestations of tuberculosis.

CONCLUSION

The characteristics of primary cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis have been changed, cervical masses localized mostly to the posterior cervical regions were the first and major clinical symptoms. CT examination will be helpful for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of such disease. Primary cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis can be treated effectively with combination of standard anti tuberculosis chemotherapy and surgical excision of the cervical lymph nodes. Operations play an important role in the therapy of primary cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis, such as shortening the treatment period, reducing the dosage, noxious and side-effect of drugs and avoiding the forming of abscess or sinus.

Clinics in diagnostic imaging (108). Tuberculous dactylitis of the thumb, mediastinal and left hilar lymphadenopathy, and probable left cervical lymphadenopathy

A five-year-old girl presented with a history of left neck swelling for one week and right thumb swelling for three weeks. Imaging studies revealed a "collar-stud" abscess in the left side of the neck, massive mediastinal lymphadenopathy with a left anterior chest wall abscess, and right thumb dactylitis that was typical of tuberculosis (TB). Surgical drainage of the left neck swelling revealed acid-fast bacilli. Young children are more susceptible to tuberculous infection, and at greater risk of extrapulmonary spread. A child infected with TB indicates recent transmission, usually from an adult. Good contact tracing is essential. Individuals with HIV infection are also at greater risk of TB and atypical mycobacterial infection as well extrapulmonary TB. The clinical and radiological features of both pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB are discussed, with additional illustrative cases.

[Surgical treatment for tuberculosis of intrathoracic lymph nodes in children and adolescents]

Ninety-four children and adolescents with tuberculosis of intrathoracic lymph nodes (TITLN) were operated on. Late diagnosis and long-term ineffective antituberculous therapy (chemotherapy lasted 2-3 years in 29.8% and 4-5 years in 19.1%) lead to the occurrence of complicated forms of TITLN in 34% of children. Computed tomography (CT) reliably determines the extent, site, and phase of a tuberculous process, assesses the time course of changes in the efficiency of antituberculous therapy. CT aids in defining the optimal time of surgical interventions. Bilateral consecutive one-stage removal of affected lymph nodes is possible in children with bilateral TITLN.

A forgotten old disease: mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenitis in children

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of the study was two-fold: (1) to highlight the varied presentation of mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenitis (MTL) in children and (2) to identify parameters, that may help in the early diagnosis of this condition.

METHODS

Between January 1995 and December 2002, 13 children with histological diagnosis of MTL were retrospectively assessed for age at presentation, history of exposure to TB, presenting symptoms, investigations, initial diagnosis, surgical treatment and outcome. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine potential risk factors for early diagnosis of MTL.

RESULTS

Thirteen children presented with: (a) fever, night sweats and weight loss (4); (b) acute respiratory distress (2); (c) cough and shortness of breath (SOB) (5); (d) stridor (1); and (e) chest pain (1). TB was suspected only in 6 children (46%) at presentation. In the other 7 cases (54%) the presumed diagnoses were: neuroblastoma (n=1), metastatic malignancy (n=1), bronchial polyp (n=1), bronchogenic cyst (n=2), and presumed foreign body (n=2). Bronchoscopy was diagnostic in identifying cheesy material within the bronchus and organisms on lavage in 4 (30%) and in identifying external compression in 2 (15%). Thoracotomy and excision of the lymph node mass was necessary to treat the mediastinal compression and to ascertain the diagnosis of TB in 3 children (23%). All 13 children had complete resolution of tuberculous lymphadenitis following anti-tuberculous treatment. The diagnostic clues in this cohort of patients were cough and SOB with history of exposure to tuberculosis (P=0.0001) and bronchoscopy and lavage with positive staining for acid-fast bacilli (P=0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Tuberculosis was not suspected in 54% of children with MTL, and they posed diagnostic dilemma on admission. Bronchoscopy must be used as a diagnostic tool in children where tuberculosis cannot be excluded by radiology or specific skin tests. Thoracotomy and excision may be necessary to treat the obstructive symptoms.

[Mycobacterial cervical lymphadenitis: role of surgery]

OBJECTIVE

To discuss the place of surgery in the management of mycobacterial cervical lymphadenitis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

It's a retrospective study (1982-2002) about 246 patients treated in the ENT department of Farhat Hached Sousse for cervical lymph node tuberculosis. Resolution was considered when neither symptoms nor lymphadenopathy in examination were noted.

RESULTS

The mean age of our patients was 28 years. A light female prevalence was noted. In 5 patients diagnosis was established by lymph node punction. A medical treatment of first intention was then managed with a failure in 3 cases, after deadlines from 3 to 4 months. All other patients were operated: cellulolymphadenectomy (47%), adenectomy (47%) or drainage of a cervical abscess (4%). Recurrence and antituberculosis treatment resistance were noted respectively in 6% and 3% of cases.

DISCUSSION

Two questions are still discussed in the management of mycobacterial cervical lymphadenitis: 1- Is surgery necessary for the diagnosis? 2- When is surgery indicated directly? Histological specimen established the diagnosis in all cases and excluded a mestastatic lymph node. In some situations surgery must be indicated at first: cold abscess, lymph node fistulation.

CONCLUSION

Surgery still has an important place in the treatment of tuberculosis lymphadenopathy.

[Tuberculosis abdominal lymphadenitis revealed by a duodenal stenosis]

Tuberculosis abdominal lymphadenitis is rare and exceptionally revealed by digestive complications. We report one case of digestive stenosis due to duodenal external compression by tuberculosis lymph nodes. Surgical resection of periduodenal lymph nodes was performed without gastric resection or gastrointestinal anastomosis. Medical treatment of tuberculosis was successful and the patient remains asymptomatic.

Mycobacterium lentiflavum as an emerging causative agent of cervical lymphadenitis

A lymph node excision was performed on a 45-year-old woman with left cervical swelling. The disorder which developed after the patient had undergone oral surgery for a severe periodontal disease failed to respond to antimicrobial chemotherapy. A mycobacterial strain subsequently identified by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of cell wall mycolic acids as Mycobacterium lentiflavum grew from the excised specimen. This case and previously published reports highlight the relevance of M. lentiflavum as an emerging causative agent of mycobacterial cervical lymphadenitis.

[Abdominal tuberculosis: clinical and therapeutic evaluation]

In this paper we present our experience concerning abdominal tuberculosis. The aim of this study is to evaluate various methods and to establish therapeutic approach to patients with abdominal tuberculosis. There were six patients (3 males and 3 females), aged between 22 and 67 years old, such as: 2 patients developed peritoneal tuberculosis, 3 patients developed intestinal tuberculosis and one patient developed mesenteric lymph node tuberculosis. We concluded that early diagnosis is often impossible and laboratory report was non-specific. Because surgical treatment in abdominal tuberculosis was made in complicate forms, we concluded that enterostomy "a minima" is the best therapeutic method.

A case of tuberculous granuloma at the supra-sternal notch that was difficult to differentiate from a thyroid tumor

BACKGROUND

Despite a decline after World War II, the rate of tuberculosis remains higher in Japan than in other countries. We report a case of tuberculous granuloma at the supra-sternal notch that was difficult to differentiate from a thyroid tumor.

CASE REPORT

The patient was a 75-year-old Japanese woman who was referred to our hospital for further investigations and treatment of an anterior neck tumor, that was diagnosed as a suspected of thyroid malignancy by another institute. The thyroid function and biological data were normal except for an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Imaging studies showed a mass at the supra-sternal notch, and the border between the tumor and the thyroid gland was indistinct. The tuberculosis bacillus group was identified by fine needle aspiration cytology. The patient was treated surgically for tuberculous granuloma, and histopathological findings revealed that the lymph node tuberuculosis had invaded the thyroid gland. We started anti-tuberculous therapy after the operation. The post-operative course was uneventful with good wound healing.

CONCLUSIONS

When a markedly elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and c-reactive protein value are associated with an anterior neck mass, tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of thyroid swelling. Fine needle aspiration cytology is a rapid, simple and effective diagnostic method for extra-pulmonary tuberculous lesions involving the neck. When there is abscess formation or features of compression, or if the mass cannot be differentiated from a thyroid tumor, combined therapy involving anti-tuberculous agents and surgery must be considered.

Management Pathways and the Surgical Diagnosis of Tuberculous Lymphadenitis: Can They Be Improved? The Bradford Experience

OBJECTIVE

To study the diagnostic pathway for tuberculous lymphadenitis from initial referral to the commencement of antituberculous therapy with the object of identifying potentially avoidable delays.

DESIGN

Retrospective case series study.

SETTING

District General Hospital, England, UK.

SUBJECTS

Thirty-four patients with head and neck tuberculous lymphadenitis diagnosed by a positive histological specimen over the 3-year period 1998-2000.

RESULTS

There were no clear pathways for referral and management. There were substantial variations in the management between different specialties and even sometimes within the same specialty. There was evidence of poor communication between various teams.

CONCLUSIONS

The study shows that for the management of head and neck tuberculous lymphadenitis, there is a need for a 'hospital' or 'trust' approach. It also reinforces the arguments for a dedicated 'neck lump clinic' with easy access both from the general practitioners and from other specialties within the hospital and for a protocol for handling biopsy specimens from nodes.

[Cervico-facial actinomycosis--case reports]

In the article the authors made the review of actinomycosis bibliography. They also presented characteristic features infections enter ways, course of the disease, diagnostic tests and treatment methods. Two cases of face and neck actinomycosis were presented. All of them treated in Katowice-Ochojec Hospital ENT ward in last five years. Abnormal clinic symptoms made difficulty to put the diagnosis. Satisfactory results were achieved after set up final diagnosis and proper treatment.

[Surgical therapy of pulmonary tuberculosis]

In individual cases of tuberculosis surgical therapy is part of an interdisciplinary therapeutic concept. Identifying the optimal point of time for surgery has a strong impact on the further course of the healing process and thus on the prognosis. Indications for surgical therapy are: 1. multi-drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis (MDR-TB), 2. late-onset complications (apergilloma, tuberculosis of the tracheobronchial tree or of mediastinal or hilar lymph nodes), 3. tuberculosis of the pleura. In MDR-TB an individual concept for therapy based on all chemotherapeutic options as well as thorough planning of the surgical procedure must be provided. Resections in tuberculotic late-onset complications should be performed in patients with persisting cavernous pulmonary tuberculosis as well as in patients with post tuberculosis complex; main goal is the prevention of tuberculotic relapse. Surgical strategies for tuberculosis of the pleura include the debridement of the pleural cavity in video assisted surgical technique, decortication, partial thoracoplasty with musculoplasty or chest fenestration.

Tuberculosis of the Lymph Glands of the Neck: A Limited Role for Surgery

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The clinical problem of a neck mass in general and tuberculous lymph nodes in the neck in particular may present a diagnostic dilemma. This retrospective study was conducted to highlight clinical presentation, management, and outcome.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients (n = 59) diagnosed with tuberculosis of the cervical lymph node in Irbid governorate during the period 1996 through 2000 were reviewed for standard criteria, in addition to diagnostic and therapeutic modalities.

RESULTS: Medical records were reviewed and relevant data were included; all age groups were equally involved with a female/male ratio of 2:1. Most of the patients presented with a neck mass to the outpatient surgical clinic. The diagnosis was made mainly based on the clinical picture and results of the Mantoux test, Ziehl-Neelsen staining, and culture of bacilli. Fine needle aspiration cytology and histologic examination of incisional or excisional specimens are the main objective diagnostic tools. All patients were treated with antituberculous drugs under directly observed therapy short-course regimen with 83% cure rate.

CONCLUSION: Tuberculosis of the cervical lymph nodes responds well to antituberculous drugs and the surgical role is limited to guidance in fine needle aspiration, incision and drainage, and incisional and limited excisional biopsy. Major excisional procedures are not without complications and should be avoided.

Tuberculous mediastinal mass presenting with stridor in a 3-month-old child

A 3-month-old boy with a history of intermittent stridor was found to have obstructive emphysema on chest x-ray. Further investigations found a mediastinal mass compressing the carina and left mainstem bronchus. The mass was excised and found to be of tuberculous origin.

Treating tuberculous lymphadenitis--ifs and buts

Treatment of tuberculous (TB) lymphadenitis is virtually a specialist's job due to multiple aetiopathological factors. Diagnosis is difficult often requiring biopsy for several times. Treatment monitoring is more complex due to peculiar behaviour of TB lymph nodes. Situation has become worse due to sharp increase in the incidence of atypical mycobacteria. Due to profound improvement in antibiotic action, life-expectancy of immuno-compromised patients has also increased along with increased incidence of atypical mycobacteria in them. Clarithromycin, ethambutol, rifabutin and amikacin seem to act best on atypical mycobacteria-induced lymphadenitis. Along with rise of multi-drug resistance (MDR), drug-resistant TB lymphadenitis cases are also on the rise.

[Surgery on tuberculosis lymphatic system and abdominal organs]

The paper presents data on surgery for tuberculosis of the lymphatics and abdominal organs. Removal of tuberculosis-affected peripheral lymph nodes during etiotropic therapy yields positive therapeutical results in 84.6% of patients. The efficiency of early operations has been first evidenced by a dynamic study of the systemic immunity. Complicated abdominal tuberculosis is encountered in 44.2% and forced emergency and planned operations on the abdomen to be performed; good late results should be consolidated by combined bactericidal therapy.

Cervical lymphadenitis caused by Mycobacterium lentiflavum

We report a case of human infection caused by Mycobacterium lentiflavum and review the literature for infections caused by this bacterium. The patient was a 19-month-old boy with involvement of a cervical lymph node. Surgical removal of the lymphadenopathy was both diagnostic and curative.