Lymph node tuberculosis in the suburbs of Paris: 59 cases in adults not infected by the human immunodeficiency virus

We report 59 cases of lymph node tuberculosis in adults not infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), observed over a period of 5 years in the North Eastern suburbs of Paris. There were 31 women and 28 men; 84.7% were aged under 44 years; 69.5% were not French, and 78% had exclusive lymph node tuberculosis. A superficial distribution was found in 52 cases and a deep pattern in 17 cases. Cervical and supraclavicular lymphadenopathies were the most common (64.4%). General symptoms were present in 63% of cases. The diagnosis was established by fine needle aspiration in 10 cases and by biopsy in 36 cases. Three cases of primary resistance to anti-tuberculosis therapy were described. Lymph node tuberculosis is still present in the Paris region, independently of HIV infection, probably due to poor social conditions.