Tuberculosis of the Cervical Lymph Nodes in Infancy

Calcification of the lymph nodes in children is almost certain evidence that the infection of the nodes is tuberculous. Roentgen-ray examination has proved to be a simple means for demonstrating the presence of calcification in lymph nodes, even though the latter lie in the abdominal cavity. The use of the roentgenogram for the demonstration of calcium in cervical nodes and its importance in differentiating tuberculous from nontuberculous adenitis has been fully described by Hanford,1and the characteristics of the shadows cast by abdominal tuberculous nodes have been set forth in a previous paper.2Our purpose in this paper is to point out the value of examination by means of the roentgen ray for the diagnosis of tuberculous cervical adenitis in infancy, a period of life in which tuberculosis of these nodes is regarded as rare. TECHNIC The technic used in taking roentgenograms of the neck is simple. The