J Korean Radiol Soc.  1988 Dec;24(6):1017-1024. 10.3348/jkrs.1988.24.6.1017.

CT findings of mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenitis

• Lee YH
• Choe KO
• Lee JD
• Kim SJ

• KMID: 2359173
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jkrs.1988.24.6.1017

Abstract

Mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenitis is commonly encountered disease in Korea and especially in adult,differential diagnosis with other mediastinal diseases is important. CT findings of tuberculous lymphadenopathyare reported in many articles that enlarged lymph node shows central low density with peripheral rim enhancementin contrast enhanced CT scan. Authors analyzed CT findings of 28 cases with mediastinal tuberculous lympadenitisretrospectiverly according to lymph node size, shape and enhancement pattern. The results were as follows: 1.Total 28 cases were 10 males and 18 females and the most prevalent age group was the 3rd decade. 2. Enlarged lymphnodes were noted in paratracheal, tracheobronchial, subcarinal and hilar hymph node areas in order of frequency.Unilateral nodal involvement (71.4%) was more common and Rt.side predominance (70%) was noted. 3. On contrastenhanced CT scan, central low density with peripheral rim enhancement was characteristic findings oflymphadenopathy which shows chronic granulomatous inflammation with caseous necrosis in pathology regardless oflymph node size. Even less than 1cm sized lymph node, commonly regarded as normal, shows characteristic centrallow density area suggesting caseous necrosis in pathology. 4. Mediastinal lymph node enlargement withoutparenchymal lesions was found in 6 cases (21.4%).

MeSH Terms

Diagnosis
Female
Humans
Inflammation
Korea
Lymph Nodes
Male
Mediastinal Diseases
Necrosis
Pathology
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Tuberculosis, Lymph Node*