[Diagnostic problems of tuberculoid cervical adenitis. Apropos of 70 cases]

Pathologic criteria in tuberculoid adenitis enable differentiation between follicular adenitis with or without caseous necrosis and that involving suppurative necrosis. The absence of specific etiology is emphasized. Seventy cases of tuberculoid adenitis are analyzed. Of the 62 cases of adenitis labelled tuberculous, bacterial confirmation was obtained in only 22 (35%), suggesting probable diagnosis by excess for the remaining 40 cases. Related bacteriologic problems concern isolation of B.K. of the 3 cases classified as sarcoidosis, it was important to obtain data from broncho-alveolar lavage and serum conversion enzyme assay. Four patients with adenitis were diagnosed as having cat-scratch disease from positive specific intradermal reactions, the probable discovery of the responsible agent thus providing a bacteriologic diagnosis.