Mediastinoscopy: a useful procedure in 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 lympha denopathy (< 1cm). Mediastinoscopy with biopsy of the right laterotracheal lymph node was performed. The culture was positive for Mycobacterium tuberc ulosis, thus permitting, the didiagnosis tuberculosis. Conclusion. - This case report stresses the advantage of extensive etiologi cal assessment when faced with unexplained uveitis; particularly it emphasi zes the importance of investigating potential tuberculosis. The existence g ranulomatous uveitis, a positive skin test, the ethnic origin, and mostly r esults chest CT scan, were the rationale for the use of mediastinoscopy wit h lymph node biopsy to help guide diagnosis. (C) 1999 Editions scientifique s et medicales Elsevier SAS.