Surgical treatment for tuberculosis of intrathoracic lymph nodes in children and adolescents

: Ninety-four children and adolescents with tuberculosis of intrathoracic lymph nodes (TITLN) were operated on. Late diagnosis and long-term ineffective antituberculous therapy (chemotherapy lasted 2-3 years in 29.8% and 4-5 years in 19.1%) lead to the occurrence of complicated forms of TITLN in 34% of children. Computed tomography (CT) reliably determines the extent, site, and phase of a tuberculous process, assesses the time course of changes in the efficiency of antituberculous therapy. CT aids in defining the optimal time of surgical interventions. Bilateral consecutive one-stage removal of affected lymph nodes is possible in children with bilateral TITLN.