Evaluation of cervical computed tomography findings in oropharyngeal tularaemia

Abstract

Cervical contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) was performed in 16 cases (5M, 11F) of oropharyngeal tularaemia, diagnosed at Zonguldak Karaelmas University, Turkey, between January 2004 and March 2006. All patients showed lymphadenopathy with contrast enhancement, 12 of them with peripheral contrast enhancement. Lymph node necrosis was found in 13 of the patients, abscess formation in 9 and cyst formation in 13. This appears to be the largest series of cervical CECT in oropharyngeal tularaemia reported to date. Tularaemia is a differential diagnosis of massive adenotonsillar enlargement and extensive necrotic cervical lymphadenopathy.