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Mycobacterial cervical lymphadenitis: A persistent diagnostic problem
Author(s) -
Alleva Michael,
Guida Robert A.,
Romo Thomas,
Kimmelman Charles P.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1288/00005537-198808000-00013
Subject(s) - medicine , biopsy , presentation (obstetrics) , tuberculosis , radiology , dermatology , pathology
The most common manifestation of mycobacterial infection encountered in otolaryngologic practice is cervical lymphadenitis. Mycobacterial cervical lymphadenitis, or scrofula, remains a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge because it mimics other pathologic processes, and because of the inconsistent reliability of physical and laboratory findings. Twenty‐five cases of scrofula were treated at our institution from 1973 to 1986. Positive chest x‐ray was exhibited by five (20%) patients. Histologic examination of the excisional biopsy was the most reliable test with 100% positive specimens. This study emphasizes the marked variability in clinical presentation of scrofula and the importance of surgical excisional biopsy for histologic diagnosis.