Superficial and deep-seated tuberculous lesions: fine-needle aspiration cytology diagnosis of 574 cases.

ABSTRACT

Over a period of 2 yr (1987-1988), FNA smears in 574 cases were found to have cytologic features suggestive of or consistent with tuberculous lesions. The age of the patients ranged from 6 mo to 75 ye, with a median of 24 yr. The male to female ratio was 273301. Sites of FNA were superficial lymph nodes (SLN) in 440 (76.7 percent) cases, superficial extranodal sites (SENS) in 50 (8.7 percent), both SLN and SENS in 7 (1.2%), the thoracic cavity in 16 (2.8%), and the abdominal cavity in 61 (10.6%). Cytologic features were described under 3 major cytologic patterns, i.e., type I epithelioid granuloma without necrosis, type II epithelioid granuloma with necrosis, type III necrosis without epithelioid granuloma. Type I, II, and III reactions were observed in 181 (31.5%), 183 (31.9%), and 210 (36.6%) cases, respectively. The overall AFB positivity was 30.8%. The AFB positivities for type I, II, and III cytologic reactions were 5.4%, 32.0%, and 48.5%, respectively. The AFB positivity was low (less than 30.0%) in swellings of the body surface (23.8%) and abdominal organs (18.9%). High positivity (greater than 60.0%) was observed in lesions of the thorax (63.6%) and thyroid (62.5%).