Sensitivity of Lymph Node Aspiration in Localized Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Due to Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis

ABSTRACT

Twenty nine patients with localized cutaneous leishmaniasis had lymph node and skin ulcer aspirations for culture of Leishmania with the modified Marzochi's vacuum aspiratory technique. Sensitivity of lymph node aspiration was 58.6 percent and 34.5 percent for skin ulcer aspiration (P=0.06). Combined sensitivity of the two methods was 79.3 percent. There was no agreement between methods (Kappa Index = -0.084; CI95 percent -0,45; 0,28) showing the potential complementary roles in diagnostic approach: