Question:

An 11-year-old boy presented with cough for 15 days. On examination he was found to have cervical lymphadenopathy. Lymph node examination showed the finding below. What could be the diagnosis?

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A granuloma with central caseous necrosis and Langhans giant cells has one classic cause.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
  • Leprosy
  • Sarcoidosis
  • TB
  • Syphilis
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: A child with chronic cough and cervical lymphadenopathy in an endemic country strongly suggests tuberculous lymphadenitis (scrofula).

Step 2: The lymph node histology shows a granuloma with central caseous necrosis surrounded by epithelioid histiocytes and Langhans-type multinucleated giant cells. Caseating granulomas are the defining feature of tuberculosis.

Step 3: Differentiate from the distractors: sarcoidosis produces non-caseating (naked) granulomas, leprosy shows granulomas with nerve involvement and acid-fast bacilli on Fite stain, and syphilis gives plasma-cell-rich endarteritis with gummas. The caseating granuloma here points to TB caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Answer: TB.

Ref: Robbins Basic Pathology, 9e, p 493.
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