An adolescent with persistent cervical lymphadenopathy and retropharyngeal abscess: case report

Tuberculosis keeps on representing a serious threat worldwide and one of the major challenge of our century. Different strategies have been developed in order to eradicate the disease, and particular attention is paid to children, who are at great risk for developing severe manifestations and poor outcome. Age at exposure, nutritional conditions and immune status can lead to great variability of disease expressions, with subsequent difficulties in making an appropriate and rapid diagnosis. Moreover, children coming from tuberculosis-endemic areas should be carefully evaluated for M. tuberculosis infection. Here we present a infrequent manifestation of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in a 13-years-old girl coming from Latin America: a superficial persistent cervical lymphadenopathy was associated with a totally asymptomatic retropharyngeal abscess. Diagnostic approach was discussed. Treatment consisted with a combination of surgical drainage of the abscess and a prolonged combined 6-month chemotherapy. The cervical lymphadenopathy disappeared and no relapses were found during the subsequent follow up.