Volume : VII, Issue : VII, July - 2018

Cytodiagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis - a study of 371 cases

Dr. Neha Mukesh Goel

Abstract :

Background: Tuberculosis is rampant especially in developing country like India. Lymphadenitis is the commonest extra pulmonary manifestation of tuberculosis and lymph nodes are easily accessible to fine needle aspiration. Fine needle aspiration cytology, being a simple outpatient  procedure used for diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis.

Aims: The present study was undertaken to study the utility of fine needle aspiration cytology for the diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis, different cytomorphological patterns in HIV positive and negative patients and to assess correlation between FNAC and Ziehl–Neelsen (Z–N) staining in diagnosing tuberculous lymphadenitis.

Methods: In a span of 4 years, the present study was carried out in 371 patients of suspected tuberculous lymphadenitis. Patients of all age group were included in this study.

Results: There were 167 males and 204 females. Maximum number of cases were in the age range of 21–40 years. The most common site of enlarged lymph nodes was cervical group of lymph nodes. The most common cytomorphological pattern was Epithelioid cell granulomas with caseous necrosis in both HIV positive and negative patients. In immunocompromised patients, smears with only caseous necrosis or only neutrophils with histiocytes admixed with necrotic background was also noted. Cases with caseous necrosis or only neutrophils showed higher AFB positivity. Histopathology and cytology correlation was available in only 9 cases and the accuracy rate was 100%.

Conclusions: Thus fine needle aspiration cytology is a reliable diagnostic tool in helping to avert the more invasive surgical procedures undertaken in the diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis. Ziehl–Neelsen stain for identification of acid fast bacilli should be incorporated as an adjunct to increase diagnostic accuracy of tuberculous lymphadenitis.

Keywords :

Article: Download PDF   DOI : 10.36106/ijsr  

Cite This Article:

Dr. Neha Mukesh Goel, Cytodiagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis‾a study of 371 cases, INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH : Volume-7 | Issue-7 | July-2018


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