A Clinical Study of Post-tubercular Bronchiectasis

Pulmonary tuberculosis (PT) Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most important communicable diseases in the world. India is the highest PT TB burden country accounting for one-fifth (21%) of the global incidence (9.4 million cases). This problem is further magnified by the after-effects of the disease—post-tubercular bronchiectasis (PTBX). As a result, the sufferers run from pillar to post with sinister symptomatology. Some of them are retreated with antituberculous treatment, although there is no definite indication. Katuri Medical College is situated in the rural Guntur surrounded by number of dusty industries like granite, quarrying, cotton crop and mills, tobacco, capsicum crop, spices besides being an agricultural area on the brink of mighty Krishna River flowing at a length of more than 700 km through three states of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. As a result the flora and fauna is complex. Workers in this area report with variegated granulomatous lung diseases to the faculty of Pulmonology. Over and above the incidence of smoking in both sexes is rampant. The final outcome in all these morbidities is bronchiectasis. Quite a few of them have had treatment for pulmonary TB in the past. With this background the present study was undertaken to find out the vagary of post-tubercular bronchiectasis ruling out the extrinsic atmospheric factors.

Improved diagnosis of tuberculosis in lymph node cytology by bleach method for detection of acid fast bacilli in comparison to conventional ziehl neelsen staining method.

Background: Extra pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is prevalent in developing countries and its diagnosis is often delayed, thus increasing the morbidity and mortality. Bleach method is cost effective, sensitive and safe method for demonstration of Acid fast bacilli (AFB) and is very valuable in diagnosing a case of tuberculous lymphadenitis. This simple procedure would benefit the patients to receive an early and specific treatment. Aims & Objective: The aim of our study was early diagnosis of tuberculosis in lymph node Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) by bleach method for detection of AFB in comparison to conventional Ziehl–Neelsen (ZN) method. Material and Methods: Total 115 cases clinically suspected as tuberculous lymphadenitis in one year duration were included in study. All the aspirates by FNAC were processed for routine cytology, ZN staining and bleach method. The significance of the bleach method over the ZN method was analyzed using the χ2 (chi-square) test. Results: Among the 115 aspirates, 59.13% (68/115) were indicative of TB on cytology, 27.83% (32/115) were positive for AFB on conventional ZN method and the smear positivity increased to 61.74% (71/115) on bleach method. Conclusion: The implementation of the bleach method clearly improves microscopic detection of AFB over ZN method. The bleach method can be easily performed and reduce chances of laboratory acquired infections.

Primary Nasopharyngeal Tuberculosis.

Tuberculous infection of the upper respiratory tract is an uncommon clinical condition and in that nasopharyngeal involvement is struck with rarity per se. This condition is often prevalent in people of low socioeconomic strata living in endemic areas, especially in developing countries. It has a silent and indolent course and most commonly mimicks nasopharyngeal carcinoma in its clinical presentation. In absence of concurrent pulmonary involvement, it is often misdiagnosed or diagnosed only after the biopsy has been taken. Nevertheless, high index of suspicion is required on part of the clinician to diagnose this comparatively rare entity.

Fine needle aspiration cytology in breast tuberculosis: Diagnostic difficulties - study of eleven cases.

Background: Incidence of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis is on the rise. Tuberculosis of breast is rare and have multifaceted clinical presentation, often mimicking carcinoma and pyogenic breast abscess. Aim: To study morphologic variations and diagnostic difficulties of breast tuberculosis on fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Methods: FNAC smears of breast tuberculosis were studied by Leishman’s Stain and categorized into four groups. Cytology smears were also studied for presence of Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) by Ziehl Neelsen (ZN) stain. Histology of excised tissue was studied by Hematoxylin and Eosin stain ( H& E). Results: Out of 11 cases, 10 were females and 1 was male. Group1 (n=2) showed epithelioid granulomas with necrosis. Group2 (n=2) showed epithelioid granulomas without necrosis. Group3 (n=3) showed necrosis with a few scattered epithelioid histiocytes. Group4 (n=4) showed necrosis with numerous neutrophilic inflammatory cells. In four cases, caseous necrosis could be identified on cytology smears. AFB were found in five cases on FNAC smears. Histology confirmed diagnosis of tuberculosis in all cases. Conclusion: In developing countries like India, based on clinical history and other features, FNAC smears showing epithelioid granulomas with or without necrosis should be considered as breast tuberculosis as demonstration of AFB is not mandatory. Identification of caseous necrosis alone is diagnostic of breast tuberculosis in cytology smears.

Tuberculous Otitis Media.

Considerable variation exists between the clinical presentation of tuberculous otitis media (TOM) seen nowadays and what was described earlier. Confusing clinical picture and subsequent delay in diagnosis of TOM permits it to progress unhindered and results in permanent disabling conditions like facial paralysis and profound hearing loss. Hence an early diagnosis of TOM and timely commencement of appropriate therapy remains a challenging task. A high index of suspicion is required on part of the clinician to diagnose this fabled entity.

Isolation Trend of Nontuberculosis Mycobacteria at a Tertiary-care Hospital in 2003-2011 / 고신대학교의과대학학술지

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to investigate the prevalence of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) species and to determine the clinical significance of NTM isolates. METHODS: From January 2003 to July 2011, NTMs were identified using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) or reverse blot hybridization assay (REBA). And pulmonary NTM infection was diagnosed by clinical history, underlying disease, radiological and microbiological findings according to the diagnostic criteria of 2007 American Thoracic Society (ATS). RESULTS: Of the 697 AFB culture-positive specimens, NTM was detected in 149 (21.4%) specimens. Among 154 NTM isolates from 149 specimens, M. avium-intracellulare complex (MAC) (48.1%) was the most frequently isolated organisms followed by M. abscessus (13.6%), M. gordonae (9.1%), M. kansasii (8.4%), M. szulgai (3.9%), M. fortuitum complex (3.3%), M. scrofulaceum (2.0%), M. malmoense (1.3%), M. chelonae (1.3%), M. marinum (1.3%), M. genavense (1.3%), M. lentiflavum (1.3%) and M. mucogenicum (0.6%). Among 147NTM isolates from 142 respiratory specimens, 54 NTM isolates (36.7%) were causative organisms in NTM pulmonary infection. CONCLUSIONS: The isolation rate of NTM was 21.4% in clinical specimen, and in some cases NTM species results in pulmonary NTM infection. Because the treatment of pulmonary NTM infection depends on the infecting species, accurate identification and clinical significance of NTM are required for adequate treatment.