Assessment of lymph node tuberculosis in northern Germany: a clinical review

To evaluate patient profiles, diagnostic approaches, and treatment strategies in patients with lymph node tuberculosis.

Demographic data, diagnostic findings, and therapies were retrospectively analyzed in 60 patients with lymph node tuberculosis who were hospitalized between 1992 and 1999.

Thirty percent (n = 18) of patients were natives, and 70% were immigrants (n = 42). The cervical lymph nodes were most frequently involved (63.3%), followed by the mediastinal lymph nodes (26.7%) and the axillary lymph nodes (8.3%). All patients (except one patient who was HIV-positive) showed a positive response to tuberculin skin testing. Lymph node excision and fine-needle aspiration (FNA) were similarly effective in obtaining sufficient material for histologic and microbiological analysis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was identified in 43.3% of patients by microbiological testing, and culture methods showed the highest sensitivity. Despite standard treatment, the initial enlargement of the lymph nodes occurred in 20% of patients and local complications occurred in 10%.

Lymph node tuberculosis is still an important issue in developed countries and has to be considered in differential diagnosis. The best approach appears to be a combination of skin testing and FNA. Negative results in the identification of M tuberculosis do not exclude the diagnosis of lymph node tuberculosis.