[Diagnosis and surgical treatment of tuberculosis of mesentric lymph nodes]

To evaluate the diagnosis, operative indication and therapeutic result of tuberculosis of mesentric lymph nodes.

Fifty-nine cases with tuberculosis of mesentric lymph nodes surgically treated at two hospitals from July 1976 to July 1997 were retrospectively analyzed.

Only 14 cases were correctly diagnosed before operation. Operative treatment for the tuberculosis of mesentric lymph nodes represented a safe, effective treatment with few complications and no operative death.

Because patients with tuberculosis of mesentric lymph nodes show no characteristic manifestations, laboratory methods (e.g. polymerase chain reaction), peritoneoscopy, CT scanning and B mode ultrosound techniques should also be considered for diagnosis of the disease. The acute or chronic ileus, hemorrhage of digestive tract, intestinal perforation or fistula, intra-abdominal large tuberculous abscess and abdominal sinus caused by tuberculosis of mesentric lymph nodes should be surgically treated. The exploratory laparotomy also should be performed on the patients with abdominal mass or those whose diagnosis of neoplasm could not be ruled out. The postoperative antituberculosis chemotherapy should be continued to decrease the occurrence of complications.