Tuberculous lymphadenopathy: Experience from the referral center of Northern India

BACKGROUND: Lymphadenopathy is the common form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in the developing country like India. The aim of the study was to assess the clinical and the pathological features of tuberculous peripheral lymphadenopathy along with the effect of the antitubercular drugs on its clinical course. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was carried out in the department of pulmonary medicine from July 2013 to June 2014. Clinico-demographical and pathological characteristics of the patients of tuberculous lymphadenopathy were studied. RESULTS: Two and four cases, 84 (41.2%) male and 120 (58.8%) females were diagnosed as the cases of tuberculous lymphadenopathy. Mean age of the patients were 28.45 ± 12.83. Palpable mass (100%) was the most common presenting feature. Cervical lymphadenopathy (92.6%) was the most common presentation of peripheral tuberculous lymphadenopathy. Most common cytological pattern seen was epithelioid granuloma with caseous necrosis (32.84%) followed by epithelioid granuloma without caseous necrosis on fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Directly observed treatment short course (DOTS) for TB was effective in treating tuberculous lymphadenopathy. CONCLUSION: Tuberculous lymphadenopathy affects female more often than males. FNAC is the effective mean in diagnosing tuberculous lymphadenopathy. DOTS is the effective mean for treating tuberculous lymphadenopathy.