Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Lewisham, London, UK. natashamasood1@aol.com
In a south London department of otorhinolaryngology and head and neck surgery, 33 cases of tuberculosis were diagnosed in 4 years. The most common presentation was cervical adenitis (58%) and in some cases the initial investigations suggested malignant disease. Most of the patients were of non-British origin but none proved to be HIV seropositive. Fine-needle aspiration was positive for tuberculosis in 7 of 19 patients. 21 patients required a surgical procedure for diagnosis.