[A tularemia mimicking lymphoma]

Rev Med Interne. 2020 Sep;41(9):632-636. doi: 10.1016/j.revmed.2020.03.008. Epub 2020 Apr 30.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Introduction: Adenopathies are a frequent cause of recourse in internal medicine. When histological analysis reveals the presence of granuloma, multiple infectious or non-infectious etiologies are considered. If diagnoses of lymphoma, sarcoidosis or tuberculosis are easily mentioned, tularemia should also be considered in the differential diagnosis.

Observation: A 54-year-old patient had a fever at the evening with night sweats and a cough resistant to two lines of antibiotics. A thoraco-abdomino-pelvic CT scan revealed hilar and mediastinal adenopathies that appeared hypermetabolic with PET-TDM, as well as pulmonary nodules. A PCR performed on lymph node biopsy and serology allowed the diagnosis of tularemia. The evolution was favourable after antibiotic treatment.

Conclusion: The association of fever, night sweats, altered general state and mediastinal adenopathies should be considered as a diagnosis of tularemia. Ganglionic biopsy, combined with molecular biology techniques and serology, can confirm the diagnosis.

Keywords: Adénopathies; Adénopathies granulomateuses; Francisella tularensis; Granulomatous lymphadenitis; Lymphadenitis; Lymphoma; Lymphome; Tularemia; Tularémie.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Ciprofloxacin / therapeutic use
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Granuloma / diagnosis
  • Granuloma / drug therapy
  • Granuloma / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Lymphadenitis / diagnosis
  • Lymphadenitis / drug therapy
  • Lymphadenitis / microbiology
  • Lymphoma / diagnosis*
  • Middle Aged
  • Tularemia / complications
  • Tularemia / diagnosis*
  • Tularemia / drug therapy

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Ciprofloxacin