[Cervical lymphadenitis caused by mycobacteria. Our experience].
BACKGROUND
Mycobacterial infections are extremely complex diseases, either due to the various clinical manifestations, or to the various involved kind of mycobacteria, or to the different sensibility to antibiotics. The authors review retrospectively their series, evaluating the management of pediatric cervical lymphadenitis due to mycobacterical etiology.


METHODS
From 1975 to 1998, at the Department of Pediatric Surgery of the university of Siena, 88 children were evaluated for laterocervical lymphadenopathy. Among these, 29 children, aged from 14 months to 13 years, were diagnosed as affected with lymphoadenopathy due to mycobacteria. Therapy of choice was the association of surgery and antibiotics. This behaviour allowed us to approach both advanced lesions, in active colliquation, and progressive ones.


RESULTS
Results were unquestionably positive, with a complete resolution and good esthetical results in 93.2% of cases. In 6.8% of cases there was a recurrence, which required reintervention.


CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of our series, we agree with the international literature in affirming that, in cases of mycobacterial lymphadenopathy, a combined antibiotic and surgical therapy is necessary. However, controversy about such a complex and difficult pathology is opened and unsolved.
Messina
M
M
Cattedra di Chirurgia Pediatrica, Università degli Studi, Siena, Italia. messinam@unisi.it
Carfagna
L
L
Meucci
D
D
Ferrucci
E
E
Tallarico
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014388:Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*
D000995:Antitubercular Agents