Mycobacterial species causing cervicofacial infection in Turkey

PubMedID: 8369120The aim of the study was to determine the mycobacterial species causing cervical lymphadenitis at Çukurova University Hospital, Adana, Turkey. To this end, culture and differential tests were performed on excisional or incisional biopsy specimens from patients with mycobacterial cervical disease (MCD). The diagnosis was confirmed by skin tests, histopathological examination and positive cultures. In 15 of 40 cases diagnosed as MCD, mycobacteria were isolated in Lowenstein-Jensen medium. The etiological agents were tuberculous mycobacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 9 cases and M. bovis in 3 cases). Of the 3 non-tuberculous cases, 2 were due to M. kansasii and the other to M. fortuitum. Antituberculous chemotherapy was given in all cases over an average period of 18 months. A combination of three of four drugs was used including isoniazid, ethambutol, rifampin and/or streptomycin. At the end a follow-up period of at least 3 years, there were no recurrences or persistences of infection and no surgical treatment was necessary to remove residual lymph nodes. © 1993 Springer-Verlag

Neurotological status in Behçet's disease and its ophthalmological correlates

Objective: To assess neurotological status and its ophthalmological correlates in Behçet's disease. Study design: A cross sectional study in which 17 patients with Behçet's disease and 13 healthy controls were included. Patients and methods: The patients were divided into two groups: those with and without end stage ocular involvement. Neurotological status was evaluated with audiological tests (pure tone and speech audiometry, tympanometry, short increment sensitivity index, tone decay, and evoked response audiometry), and Dix-Halpike positional testing. Results: The positional test was normal. The audiological test results of the patients with and without end stage ocular involvement were not significantly different (p>0.05). A sloping audiogram with bilateral symmetric and mild sensorineural hearing loss was the main audiogram obtained. There was no relationship between the presence or absence of the end stage ocular involvement and the otological parameters studied excluding I–III interval on evoked response audiometry (p>0.05). Conclusion: Although the main underlying pathogenetic factor in Behçet's disease is the autoimmune vasculitis, the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of neurological and ocular damage may be different. Alternatively, the differential involvement of certain organ systems may not reflect the nature of the disease process itself, but rather the manner in which each organ responds to injury