Tuberculous and nontuberculous cervical lymphadenitis: a clinical review.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to identify differences in clinical characteristics between patients with tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis and those with nontuberculous cervical lymphadenitis and to determine the diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology.


METHODS
Seventy-two patients with inflammatory cervical lymphadenitis were studied retrospectively. They were divided into 2 groups: group 1 consisted of those with tuberculous lymphadenitis and group 2 consisted of those with non-tuberculous lymphadenitis. The demographic characteristics, clinical parameters, and hematological and cytological results of the 2 groups were compared.


RESULTS
Other than there being a significantly higher proportion of foreign-born patients in group 1, there were no differences in clinical characteristics between the 2 groups. The sensitivity and specificity of FNA cytology in the diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis were 88% and 96%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
It is difficult to clinically differentiate tuberculous from nontuberculous lymphadenitis. FNA cytology is useful in the diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis.


CONCLUSIONS
In regions where tuberculosis is endemic, treatment can be instituted without the need for excisional biopsy if the FNA results show characteristic caseating granuloma.
Chao
Siew Shuen
SS
Department of Otolaryngology, National University Hospital, Singapore. entv6@nus.edu.sg
Loh
Kwok Seng
KS
Tan
Kun Kiang
KK
Chong
Siew Meng
SM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008199:Lymphadenitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014388:Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology