Enigma unraveled: Role of ultrasonography in tuberculous lymphadenopathy

Abstract

Lymphadenopathy is the most common form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis; cervical region being the frequent affected site. Ultrasound is a useful noninvasive imaging modality in the assessment of cervical lymph nodes. The morphology of lymph nodes is evaluated by grey-scale sonography and the power Doppler sonography helps in the assessment the vasculature of lymph nodes. Tuberculous lymphadenitis exhibits distinctive features like presence of adjacent soft tissue edema and matting of nodes. This article highlights the use of ultrasonographic as a diagnostic approach, by comparing and differentiating the features of tubercular lymph nodes in a 10-year-old female patient.

Keywords

• Tuberculous lymphadenitis
• Ultrasonography
• Power Doppler