Correlation of fine needle aspiration cytology, smear and culture in tuberculous lymphadenitis: a retrospective study

ABSTRACT

Tuberculous lymphadenitis is the commonest form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Fine needle aspiration cytology [FNAC] is a simple out-patient diagnostic procedure used for the diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis. Over the last two decades, fine needle aspiration cytology has emerged as a simple outpatient diagnostic procedure for the evaluation of tuberculous lymphadenitis. This has replaced excision biopsy of lymph node. In this study, FNAC was complemented with smear examination and culture for AFB. It was observed that out of the 100 reported cases of tuberculosis on FNAC direct smear positivity on ZN staining was 3/100[3%]. After the inoculation of residual aspirated material on LJ medium the culture yield was 27/100[27%]. Thus FNAC had greater diagnostic efficacy, proved to be a rapid, less time consuming and non-invasive screening test for evaluation of tuberculous lymphadenitis