CERVICAL TUBERCULOUS LYMPHADENITIS IN A CHILD: A CASE REPORT

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease primarily affecting the lungs, and the most common manifestation of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis is tuberculous lymphadenitis. A healthy 6-year-old female presented with a complaint of an asymptomatic swelling on the right side of her neck with gradual growth within 20 weeks. Extra-oral examination showed diffuse submandibular lymphadenopathy, erythematous aspect, painful and consistent under palpation and with central fluctuation. Intra-orally, the patient presented with multiple carious lesions. The patient’s CT showed a homogeneous, well-defined, hypodense mass in the submandibular region measuring 2.39 × 2.01 cm leading to the following hypotheses: dentoalveolar abscess, dermoid cyst, and pleomorphic adenoma. The patient was referred to a total lesion exeresis under general anesthesia. Histopathologic results showed lymphoid tissue presenting dense lymphocytes infiltrate, caseous necrosis, and giant multinucleated cells (Langhans type), leading to a final diagnosis of cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis. The patient was immediately transferred to start anti-TB treatment, undergo a chest radiography, and have an HIV test.