Short course chemotherapy for lymph node tuberculosis: final report at 5 years

Seventy-three patients with superficial lymph node tuberculosis, who received either 9 months' or 18 months' treatment with rifampicin and isoniazid, supplemented by ethambutol for the first 8 weeks, were followed up for 5 years. No clinical nor microbiological relapse was recorded. The cosmetic results were good in both groups. Initial surgery or aspiration conferred no advantage or disadvantage. The 9-month regimen can therefore be recommended as effective therapy for superficial lymph node tuberculosis.