[Mediastinoscopy in the case of recurrent uveitis].

INTRODUCTION

The authors report the case of a patient who presented for 4 years recurrent anterior uveitis accompanied by asymptomatic tuberculous mediastinal lymphadenitis.

EXEGESIS

CT scan of the chest showed the existence of mediastinal lymphadenopathy (< 1 cm). Mediastinoscopy with biopsy of the right laterotracheal lymph node was performed. The culture was positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, thus permitting the diagnosis of tuberculosis.

CONCLUSION

This case report stresses the advantage of extensive etiological assessment when faced with unexplained uveitis; particularly it emphasizes the importance of investigating potential tuberculosis. The existence of granulomatous uveitis, a positive skin test, the ethnic origin, and mostly results of chest CT scan, were the rationale for the use of mediastinoscopy with lymph node biopsy to help guide diagnosis.