Diagnosing lymphoma in the shadow of an epidemic: lessons learned from the diagnostic challenges posed by the dual tuberculosis and HIV epidemics.
Leuk Lymphoma
; 61(14): 3417-3421, 2020 12.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-759769
ABSTRACT
Infectious disease epidemics may overshadow and exacerbate existing challenges in diagnosing lymphoma. We describe pragmatic strategies we have implemented to overcome diagnostic obstacles caused by the local tuberculosis (TB) and HIV epidemics in South Africa, which may serve as a guide to minimize diagnostic delay during the COVID-19 pandemic. We report on the diagnostic utility of a rapid-access lymph node core-biopsy clinic, where lymph node biopsies are taken from outpatients at their first visit. Analysis of tissue biopsies (n = 110) revealed the three most common conditions diagnosed were TB adenitis (34%), lymphoma (29%), and disseminated malignancy (20%). A first-attempt core-biopsy was able to diagnose lymphoma in 27/32 (84%) of cases. Compared with a historical cohort, the diagnostic interval (time from first health visit to diagnostic biopsy) for patients with lymphoma was significantly shorter, 13.5 vs 48 days (p = 0.002).
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Tuberculosis
/
HIV Infections
/
Coinfection
/
Lymphoma
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Diagnostic study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
English
Journal:
Leuk Lymphoma
Journal subject:
Hematology
/
Neoplasms
Year:
2020
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
10428194.2020.1815016
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