Primary peripheral lymphadenopathy in Jos, Nigeria.

Surgical biopsy specimens of 129 enlarged peripheral nodes seen at Jos University Teaching Hospital over a 3-year period were analyzed. Enlarged peripheral nodes due to primary sarcomas or carcinomas were excluded from the series. Tuberculosis and malignant lymphomas were diagnosed in 48.0% and 28.8% of the patients respectively. Amongst children aged 12 years and below, these diseases account for 50.0% and 30.0% childhood primary peripheral lymph node enlargement respectively. Non-diagnostic features were seen in 20.8% of patients. The cervical (53.0%), axillary (18.2%) and inguinal (7.4%) nodes are affected in that order. Regional lymph node involvement is the usual pattern.