Tuberculosis of intercostal lymphnode

Tuberculosis is most common disease of the world mainly in developing countries with male predominance. Though tuberculosis is common in lungs but can also present as extra-pulmonary disease. It can occur in lymphnodes, intestine, mammary glands, spine etc. The occurance of isolated tuberculosis in intercostal lymphnode is very rare and that too along the anterior axillary line. The tuberculosis of parasternal and posterior-axillary line lymphnode have been documented.

In our study both patients were females had swelling along the anterior axillary line. The fine needle aspiration cytology in both cases revealed as reactive lymphadenitis. The blood investigations and chest X-ray were normal in both cases.

Clinically both patients were diagnosed as inflammatory lymphadenopathy. The histopathological examination revealed as caseating granulomatous lesion. Serum examination confirmed the diagnosis in both cases.