Cervical lymph nodes can easily be detected by ultrasonography which has a sensitivity of 96.8 percent; while more advance high resolution ultrasound can detect a cervical mass measuring <2 mm in diameter while definitive diagnosis usually requires tissue biopsy or fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Tuberculosis majorly contributes to the global disease burden, with almost one third of the world population infected by its causative organism. Mycobacterium tuberculosis accounts for almost 1.3 million deaths worldwide annually. Pakistan ranks amongst first ten countries with highest burden of tuberculosis with a prevalence of 420,000. In Pakistan the predominant cause of cervical lymphadenopathy is tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is a major public health concern worldwide especially in countries with its high incidence and prevalence. It is the most frequent infectious disease of the lymphoid tissue and is inoculable in nature. Cervical lymphadenopathy can be a manifestation of simple local inflammatory reaction to a spectrum of diseases including malignant lymphomas.
Last date updated on April, 2024