Epidemiological, diagnostic, therapeutic and evolutionary profile of lymph node tuberculosis in the pneumo-phtisiology department of the National Reference University Hospital Center (NR-UHC) of N’Djamena: about 40 cases

Abstract

Introduction: The lymph node tuberculosis represents the most frequently encountered extra pulmonary localization. It poses a real diagnostic, therapeutic and aesthetic problem despite the current effectiveness of anti-bacillary chemotherapy. The objective of our study was to analyze the clinical, therapeutic and evolutionary epidemiological aspects of lymph node tuberculosis in order to improve its management.

Patients and methods: We report a retrospective descriptive study over a period of 2 years from April 2015 to March 2017 at the CHU-RN involving 40 patients. Were included in our study all patients with histologically confirmed lymph node tuberculosis. The variables studied were sociodemographic, clinical, paraclinical, therapeutic and evolutionary.

Results: Forty patients were included during this period whose mean age was 32 years, with a sex ratio of 1.1 in favor of women. Cervical localization was predominant with 67.5% of cases. It was noted in 52.5% of cases a notion of tuberculosis contact. The histological diagnosis was noted in 97% of cases. Concomitant pulmonary involvement was reported in 20% of cases. HIV retroviral coinfection was found in 30% of cases. Anti-bacillary treatment was established in all our patients. Only the cases of treatment failure (20%) and relapse (10%) had benefited from surgical treatment. The evolution was favorable in 65%.

Conclusion: The diagnosis of lymph node tuberculosis is often retained on the anatomopathological data. Treatment sometimes requires surgery.