Histopathology of lymphadenitis caused by atypical mycobacteria.

Abstract

A histopathologic study of lymphadenitis caused by atypical mycobacteria was made by reviewing biopsy material from 36 personally observed children. The cause of the lymphadenitis was confirmed by cultural recovery of organisms in 30 cases, and in 4 others, acid-fast bacilli were seen on microscopy or section. Most of the specimens showed a pattern of tissue reaction similar to that seen in ordinary tuberculosis, but seven demonstrated a dimorphic pattern (suppuration and granulomatous inflammation without caseation) alone or together with an ordinary tuberculous reaction. Four nodes showed nonspecific diffuse granulomatous or chronic inflammatory reactions. It was concluded that the histopathologic features of atypical mycobacterial lymphadenitis are not sufficiently characteristic to enable the separation of this group of diseases from others with similar pathologic changes.