The re-emergence of scrofula with HIV infection: a review of epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment

Abstract

Scrofula has been called "The Dangerous Masquerader" because of its propensity to mimic other diseases. Scrofula has been mistaken for metastatic carcinoma, regional neoplasms, thyroglossal duct cysts, fungal disease, toxoplasmosis, lymphoma, osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, bacterial adenitis, and collagen vascular disease. Because of the enormous number of infectious and neoplastic diseases acquired by the HIV positive population, the diagnosis of scrofula may be further delayed in some patients. In these patients the early diagnosis of scrofula might allow the early identification of HIV infection and the early institution of anti-retroviral therapy. The recommended duration of anti-tuberculosis therapy is also different in HIV positive patients. Therefore, to ensure the patient of the most beneficial therapy, the physician must always consider scrofula in the differential diagnosis of a neck mass, and particularly because of the increases incidence of intrapulmonary tuberculosis in AIDS patients, he must consider the possibility of HIV infection.