title: Supra-sternal notch tuberculous abscess: a report of three cases.
abstract: Extra-pulmonary tuberculosis remains a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge; its clinical presentation can mimic a wide range of pathological conditions. Here we report on 3 female patients who presented with supra-sternal masses that were suspected clinically to be of thyroid origin. By use of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), they were proved to be tuberculous lesions involving the pre-tracheal lymph nodes. Serological examination for HIV-I/II was not reactive in the 3 patients. The patients responded well to a regimen of multi-drug therapy. It is concluded that extra-pulmonary tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of thyroid or para-thyroid swellings and that FNAC is a simple, quick and reliable procedure in the diagnosis of extra-pulmonary tuberculous lesions involving the neck.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Endemic Diseases, University of Khartoum, Sudan. eltahir@usa.net
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Khalil
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Elsiddig
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Elsafi
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: el-Hag
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Elkhidir
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Suleiman
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hussein
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: el-Hassan
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000382:microbiology*; D009333:Neck; D014388:Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / Q000175:diagnosis*