Abstract
Background: In principle, cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis (CTBL) is a medical disease that may require surgical treatment, particularly in young women who complain of psychosocial and cosmetic problems. We encountered 13 cases of aggravated CTBL treated surgically despite the appropriate course of antituberculous chemotherapy. We report the clinical characteristis of these cases. Methods: The clinical data of 13 patients with aggravated CTBL requiring surgical treatment from January 2000 to December 2006 at the Department of Chest Medicine, Internal Medicine and Plastic Surgery, National Medical Center was reviewed retrospectively. Results: Twelve of the 13 cases (92%) were female. The most common age was 21~30 years (69%). Multiple nodes were palpated in 11 cases (85%). The supraclavicular lymph nodes were sites the most commonly involved (54%). The other involved sites in the order of decreasing frequency were the jugular chain, posterior cervical, submandibular and infraauricular lymph nodes. A palpable mass was the most commonsymptom. Neck pain was reported in 3 cases (23%). General symptoms such as weight loss, fatigue, anorexia and night sweats were noted in 5 cases (38%). Respiratory symptoms such as cough, sputum, hemoptysis, dyspnea and chest pain were observed in 4 cases (31%). Pulmonary tuberculosis was noted in 11 cases (85%). Other extrapulmonary tuberculosis coexisted in 4 cases (31%). This suggests that surgical CTBLs may be manifestations of a systemic disease and might be difficult to treat. Most cases (92%) were stages 2 and 3 at the initial diagnostic period but all cases fell into stage 4 and 5 when reassesed before surgery. The average duration of anti-TB chemotherapy before and after surgery was 10.2 and 15.2 months, respectively. The 13 patients were followed up until June. 2008. Among them, 2 cases had newly developed CTBL and the other 11cases showed no recurrence. Conclusion: In principle, CTBL is the medical disease. However, despite the appropriate course of anti-TB chemotherapy, CTBL can progress to a more advanced stages and grow rapidly to a large-sized or fistulous mass with a persistent abscess. Surgical treatment may be inevitable for patients with psychosocial and cosmetic problems caused by these masses, particularly in young women.
연구배경: 결핵성 경부 임파선염은 항결핵제로 치료하는 것이 권고되고 있다. 그러나 저자들은 결핵성 경부 임파선염이 적절한 항결핵제 치료에도 불구하고 진행되어 수술적 절제가 필요한 경우를 경험하게 되었다. 이에 약물과 수술을 병합하여 진행된 결핵성 경부 임파선염을 치료한 환자를 대상으로 후향적으로 관찰해 보았다. 방 법: 결핵성 경부 임파선염을 진단받고 항결핵제로 치료하였으나 진행되어 치료가 어려워 수술을 시행한 13명에 관한 의무기록을 후향적으로 연구하였다. 결 과: 내과적 치료가 어려워 수술을 병합한 13명을 후향적으로 관찰하였을 때 임상 증상은 일반적인 결핵성 경부 임파선염의 양상과 비슷하였다. 수술 전 평균 항결핵제 투약 기간은 10.2개월이었고 수술 후 평균 투약기간은 15.2개월이었고 총 약물 투여 기간은 평균 25.4개월로 일반적 결핵성 경부 임파선염의 치료기간보다 길었다. 경과 관찰 중 2명은 재발되었다. 1명은 11번 부신경 손상의증의 수술합병증이 있었다. 결 론: 결핵성 경부 임파선염은 내과적 질환이라고 하 지만 경우에 따라서 외과적 치료가 불가피한 경우도 있었다. 수술이 필요했던 13명의 환자는 대부분 여자였고 폐결핵 및 다른 폐외결핵을 동반한 전신 결핵 환자였다. 수술적 치료로 13명 중 11명에서 비교적 외견상 성공적이었다고 할 수 있으나, 술전 및 술후 항결핵제 투약기간의 단축과 무관하였으며 수술 후에도 충분한 기간 항결핵제 사용이 필요하였다.