title: Tuberculous Lymphadenitis in South-Eastern Nigeria; A 15 Years Histopathologic Review (2000-2014).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic has brought about a resurgence in tuberculosis (TB), especially in developing countries. Previous studies on TB lymphadenitis (TBLN) in South-Eastern Nigeria were done before the advent of the HIV pandemic making a review pertinent.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the role of TBLN as a cause of superficial lymphadenopathy in the post-HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) era of South-Eastern Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a 15 years (2000-2014) retrospective review of all superficial lymph node biopsies (SLNBs) received at the Department of Morbid Anatomy, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla Enugu, Nigeria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and seventy-two cases of TBLN were identified in this study constituting 14.6% (172/1,180) of SLNBs received at our Hospital's Morbid Anatomy Department during the 15 years period under review. Twenty-eight cases of TBLN were clinically screened for HIV, 23 of which tested positive, representing 82.1% (23/28) of clinically screened cases. Acid fast bacilli demonstration was positive in 15.1% (26/172) of cases using Ziehl-Neelsen stain. 48.8% (84/172) of TBLN cases were males, and 51.2% (88/172) were females with most (22) cases received in 2012 and least (5) cases in 2000. Most TBLN occurred in the 21-25 years age group with a total of 21.5% (37/172) of cases and a male to female ratio of 1:1.5 The most common biopsy site for TBLN was the cervical group followed by the axillary and inguinal groups with 73.8% (127/172), 14% (24/172), and 4.7% (8/172) of cases, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a remarkable decline in the prevalence of TB lymphadenitis in South-Eastern Nigeria indicating a change in trend from the pre- to the post-HIV/AIDS era with slightly more females now presenting with TBLN and most TB lymphadenitis patients now presenting with associated HIV/AIDS disease. There is an urgent need to provide modern diagnostic facilities in our medical laboratories.
authors.affiliation: Department of Morbid Anatomy, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, Enugu/University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria.
authors.forename: F I
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Ukekwe
authors.affiliation: Department of Morbid Anatomy, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, Enugu/University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria.
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Olusina
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomic and Molecular Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos/Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Aaf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Banjo
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomic and Molecular Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos/Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O R
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Akinde
authors.affiliation: Department of Morbid Anatomy, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, Enugu/University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nzegwu
authors.affiliation: Department of Morbid Anatomy, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, Enugu/University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O C
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Okafor
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Immunology, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, Enugu/University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ocheni
keywords: Histology; Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Lymphadenitis; Tuberculosis; Ziehl-Neelsen