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- Title
Current diagnosis and management of peripheral tuberculous lymphadenitis.
- Authors
Fontanilla, Jose-Mario; Barnes, Arti; von Reyn, C Fordham
- Abstract
Peripheral tuberculous lymphadenitis accounts for ~10% of tuberculosis cases in the United States. Epidemiologic characteristics include a 1.4:1 female-to-male ratio, a peak age range of 30-40 years, and dominant foreign birth, especially East Asian. Patients present with a 1-2 month history of painless swelling of a single group of cervical lymph nodes. Definitive diagnosis is by culture or nucleic amplification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis; demonstration of acid fast bacilli and granulomatous inflammation may be helpful. Excisional biopsy has the highest sensitivity at 80%, but fine-needle aspiration is less invasive and may be useful, especially in immunocompromised hosts and in resource-limited settings. Antimycobacterial therapy remains the cornerstone of treatment, but response is slower than with pulmonary tuberculosis; persistent pain and swelling are common, and paradoxical upgrading reactions may occur in 20% of patients. The role of steroids is controversial. Initial excisional biopsy deserves consideration for both optimal diagnosis and management of the otherwise slow response to therapy.
- Publication
Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, 2011, Vol 53, Issue 6, p555
- ISSN
1537-6591
- Publication type
Journal Article
- DOI
10.1093/cid/cir454