Korean J Infect Dis.  1999 Oct;31(5):445-449.

A Case of Developed Tuberculous Lymphadenitis and Epstein-Barr Virus Associated Lymphadenitis

• Yun MH
• Chung NG
• Jeong DC
• Kim JT
• Chung SY
• Kim KM
• Kang JH

Abstract

Lymphadenitis is a common pediatric disease associated with infection and inflammation. Acute lymphadenitis in children is usually accompanied by systemic viral illness, and subsides within a few days to two weeks. However, chronic lymphadenopathy or lymphadenitis is a rare disease, and is due to a reactive response to infections including tuberculosis, neoplasms, and noninflammatory lesions. The diagnostic evaluation of chronic lymphadenitis may be very complicated and it is important to consider chronic infectious diseases and rare malignancies as possible etiologies. We report a 13-year old boy who was eventually diagnosed with tuberculous lymphadenitis. The patient was initially admitted for enlarged cervical, axillary, and epitrochlear lymph nodes. Biopsy of a cervical lymph node showed the findings compatible with angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia (AILD) associated with EBV infection. During treatment with prednisolone, the enlarged lymph node decreased in size. However, the lymph node enlargement resumed and we performed a second biopsy. At this time the biopsy showed tuberculous lymphadenitis and a culture of gastric juice showed M. tuberculosis. With the initiation of antituberculous treatment, the patient improved clinically.

Keyword

Epstein-Barr virus lymphadenitis; Tuberculous lymphadenitis; Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenitis with dysproteinemia

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Biopsy
Child
Communicable Diseases
Epstein-Barr Virus Infections
Gastric Juice
Herpesvirus 4, Human*
Humans
Immunoblastic Lymphadenopathy
Inflammation
Lymph Nodes
Lymphadenitis*
Lymphatic Diseases
Male
Prednisolone
Rare Diseases
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, Lymph Node*
Prednisolone