Mycobacterial cervical lymphadenitis. A clinicopathological study of 3 cases

Three adult patients with tuberculous cervical (submandibular) lymphadenitis were treated in the past year in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Evangelismos Hospital, University of Athens. None had a history of exposure to tuberculosis. In all, the chest X-rays were clear but the PPD tests were positive. All patients underwent excisional biopsy of grossly involved lymph nodes and histological examination and special stains confirmed the diagnosis. The patients were subsequently treated with triple drug administration. Antituberculosis chemotherapy consisted of isoniazid, rifampin and ethambutol and all are well after a follow-up of 9, 10 and 11 months respectively. Medical approaches often failed to diagnose tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis conclusively, and this disease remains a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, because it mimics other pathological processes. The treatment of choice seems to be surgical excision and long term antituberculosis chemotherapy. Surgery provides a rapid tissue diagnosis, because the histological examination of the excisional biopsy is the most reliable diagnostic test.