Tuberculous mediastinal lymphadenopathy: Simulating other mediastinal tumors in chest films

Radiographs of chest may hardly differentiate the tuberculous mediastinal lymphadenopathy in children oradults with other mediastinal tumors sometimes when markedly enlarged mediastinal lymph node is the main findingof tuberculosis. 6 cases of tuberculous mediastinal lymphadenopathy was collected which was confirmedhistopathologically and of which findings in chest films are indistinguishable with other mediastinal tumorsespecically lymphomas. After analysing the findings in chest films, the followings; could be found 1) Thelocations of the lesions are mainly hilar and superior mediastinum but there are also many variations of them, sothese are of no significance in differential diagnosis with other mediastinal tumors. 2) The contours of thelesions are unilateral in 5 cases, and scalloped or diffusely widened appearance in all cases. 3) When mediastinallymphadenopathy is the sole evidence of tuberculosis and even when additional lesions are noted in lung parenchymeor pleura, occasionallyes chest x-ray only is insufficient to differentiate the lesion with other mediastinaltumors including lymphomas. 4) Considering the frequency of tuberculosis in this country. whenever one suspecs anymediastinal tumors in chest x-ray one should include the possibility of tuberculous mediastinal lymphadenopathy indifferential diagnosis.