title: Management of lymphadenitis due to non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection is an important cause of cervico-facial lymph node enlargement in young children. The optimal treatment is thought to be early complete excision without chemotherapy. We compared management of patients referred to our centre to this "gold standard" and determined clinical outcomes by type of primary surgical intervention (complete excision vs. incomplete excision).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study of management and clinical outcomes of all children (<12 years) with NTM lymphadenitis referred to a single UK centre between May 1998 and May 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 43 children. Median time from onset of swelling to operation was 6 weeks. Management was: no operation (n = 1, 2 %), complete excision (n = 20, 47 %), incision and drainage (n = 17, 40 %) and fine needle aspirate (n = 5, 12 %). Children not treated by primary complete excision were more likely to have: re-operation (91 vs. 30 %; χ(2) = 16.48; p < 0.0001); persistent lymphadenitis (77 vs. 30 %; χ(2) = 9.45; p = 0.002); sinus formation (26 vs. 5 %; χ2 = 3.74; p = 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Failure to undertake primary complete excision leads to further morbidity. A high index of suspicion is required for timely appropriate management to avoid unnecessary morbidity and further intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Childrens Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK.
authors.forename: Catherine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Sarah H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.forename: Anisha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sodha
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tate
authors.forename: Javaid
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sadiq
authors.forename: Kokila
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lakhoo
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Pollard
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003646:Debridement; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016015:Logistic Models; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D009170:Nontuberculous Mycobacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014388:Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery