Frequency and effective treatment of ulcers and sinuses in cases of tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the frequency and effective treatment of ulcers and sinuses in cases of tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis (TCL).

Design: Observational cross-sectional study.

Place and duration of study: Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), Kathmandu, Nepal, during the period of two years from March, 2000 to February, 2002.

Patients and methods: A hundred cases of histopathologically confirmed cases of tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis of more than six weeks of duration were included in the study. Overall frequency of the complication as well as the efficacy of treatment regime was considered.

Results: Out of 100 patients, 8 (8%) were found to develop ulcers and/or sinuses during the process of development of TCL which were effectively treated (100% cure rate). Mode of treatment was surgical excision of ulcers/sinuses along with affected underlying lymph nodes, followed by short course of anti-tubercular chemotherapy. Not a single case recurred during their follow-up period.

Conclusion: In this series there was a low frequency of formation of ulcers/sinuses during the process of development of TCL. Surgical excision of ulcers/sinuses along with affected underlying lymph nodes, followed by short course of anti-tubercular chemotherapy is the effective methods of their treatment.