Problem of differential diagnosis of tuberculosis of peripheral lymph nodes and malignant neoplasms

A total of 386 patients admitted with the diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis were subjected to a differential diagnosis of tuberculosis of peripheral lymph nodes and malignant tumours. A histological examination of the removed lymph nodes demonstrated malignant tumours in 22 (5.7%) patients. Difficulties encountered in differentiating between tuberculous lymphadenitis and malignant tumours are due to changes in the clinical course of the process which are manifested in the enlargement of one or several nodes in 80% of patients in the absence of intoxication, which is also typical of primary malignant tumours of the lymph nodes. Histological and bacteriological studies of the removed nodes proved to be more informative for the differential diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis and malignant tumours.