Toxoplasmic Lymphadenitis of the Head and Neck Region

Abstract

Objective: We analyzed the clinical characteristics and treatment results in patients with a final diagnosis of toxoplasmic lymphadenitis after surgery.

Methods: A total of 23 patients with a final diagnosis of toxoplasmic lymphadenitis of the head and neck region after surgery from January 2010 to August 2022 were enrolled.

Results: All patients with toxoplasmic lymphadenitis presented with a neck mass and a mean age of over 40. The most common location of toxoplasma lymphadenitis in the head and neck was neck level II in 9 patients, followed by level I, level V, level III, the parotid gland, and level IV. Three patients had masses in multiple regions of the neck. Preoperative diagnosis (based on imaging tests, physical examination, and fine-needle aspiration cytology results) was benign lymph node enlargement in 11 cases, malignant lymphoma in 8 cases, metastatic carcinoma in 2 cases, and parotid tumors in 2 cases. All patients underwent surgical resection and were diagnosed with toxoplasma lymphadenitis based on the final biopsy. There were no major complications after surgery. A total of 10 patients (43.5%) received additional antibiotics after surgery. There was no recurrence of toxoplasmic lymphadenitis during the follow-up period.

Conclusions: It is challenging to assess the diagnostic accuracy of preoperative examination in toxoplasma lymphadenitis; hence, surgical resection is necessary to differentiate it from other diseases.