and treatment, with ultrasonography guidance depending on the depth of the node involved, and intravenous second-line antibiotic treatment is started. We were able to identify causative organism in 62% of cases, which is within the range reported in the literature (36%-87%). 1,[4][5][6]9,10 If there is suppuration recurrence, we perform more needle aspirations. Following such a management protocol, in our group of 60 patients, there was a 98% probability of avoiding surgical drainage. Only 1 patient needed surgical treatment for progression and cutaneous fistulisation.There are many advantages reported for this kind of management, such as avoiding: neck incision and consequent scars, risk of complications of surgery in case of deep or parapharyngeal lymph nodes, general anaesthesia in most cases and painful dressing change as well as removal of drains. 1,2,4,5 Moreover, surgery compared with needle aspiration may not shorten hospitalisation as it was reported by other investigators, 1,2,4,5 because the duration of i.v. antibiotic treatment in our institution does not depend on surgical or aspirational strategy. | Clinical applicability of the studyNeedle aspiration is an effective and safe method of treatment of suppurated cervical lymphadenitis. It provides material to perform bacterial culture and may be curative when associated with medical therapy. We advocate that it could become the first-line treatment for suppurated cervical lymphadenitis.