[Lesions of tuberculosis in the head and neck region: a retrospective analysis of 48 cases].
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated patients who had been treated for head and neck tuberculosis.


METHODS
This retrospective study included 40 patients (28 males, 20 females; mean age 32.6 years; range 11 to 65 years) who had received treatment for tuberculosis of the head and neck region between January 2000 and June 2009. Clinical findings, treatment modalities, and the results of treatment were evaluated.


RESULTS
Forty-one patients had cervical lymphadenopathy, two patients had parotid gland tuberculosis, two patients had nasopharyngeal tuberculosis, and three patient were diagnosed as tongue, tonsil and larynx tuberculosis respectively. Lymph nodes in the posterior triangle were found to be the most common region afflicted by tuberculosis lymphadenitis. Diagnosis was confirmed by excisional biopsy in all patients and lesions were resolved after antituberculosis chemotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Although different clinical presentations were seen, tuberculosis cervical lymphadenitis is the most common presentation of tuberculosis in the head and neck region. Tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of the neck mass and other head and neck lesions.
Vayisoğlu
Yusuf
Y
Department of Otolaryngology, Medicine Faculty of Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey. yvayisoglu@gmail.com
Unal
Murat
M
Ozcan
Cengiz
C
Görür
Kemal
K
Horasan
Elif Sahin
ES
Sevük
Levent
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006257:Head / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000473:pathology*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D014388:Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology
D000995:Antitubercular Agents