The value of wide-needle aspiration in the diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis in Africa. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1994. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Click here to return to AIDSLINE main menu
DonateNow
Print this Article


The value of wide-needle aspiration in the diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis in Africa.

AIDS. 1993 Sep;7(9):1221-5. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/94030753
Bem C; Patil PS; Elliott AM; Namaambo KM; Bharucha H; Porter JD; Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Zambia,; Lusaka.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To evaluate wide-needle (19-gauge) aspiration in the diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis. SETTING: Department of Surgery, University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia. PATIENTS: Three hundred and four patients presenting to one surgeon for diagnostic surgical biopsy of a peripheral lymph node during 1989-1990. DESIGN: Prospective study in which wide-needle aspiration routinely preceded open surgical biopsy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Histology and mycobacterial culture of the surgically biopsied lymph node; HIV-1 serology; successful aspiration of material, naked-eye appearance of aspirate, presence of acid-fast bacilli and/or microscopic caseation in the aspirate. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty-eight out of 304 (61.8%) patients had histologically and/or culture-proven tuberculous lymphadenitis, of whom 155 out of 183 (84.7%) tested HIV-1-seropositive. Material was successfully aspirated from 180 out of 188 (95.7%) of patients with proven tuberculous lymphadenitis. Macroscopic caseation, diagnosable on naked-eye examination alone of the aspirate, was present in 49 out of 120 (40.8%) consecutive aspirates from tuberculous nodes. Acid-fast bacilli and/or microscopic caseation were seen in 116 out of 155 (74.8%) aspirates from tuberculous nodes for which smears stained both by Ziehl-Nielsen and haematoxylin & eosin were available. CONCLUSIONS: It is recommended that all patients with suspected tuberculous lymphadenitis in Africa, undergo wide-needle aspiration before surgical biopsy or empirical treatment.
Keywords: Adolescence Adult Aged *Biopsy, Needle/INSTRUMENTATION Child Child, Preschool Evaluation Studies Female Human Male Middle Age Needles Prospective Studies Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Tuberculosis, Lymph Node/*DIAGNOSIS/EPIDEMIOLOGY/PATHOLOGY Zambia/EPIDEMIOLOGY JOURNAL ARTICLEKWDadolescenceadultagedKWDbiopsy,needle/instrumentationchildchild,preschoolevaluationstudiesfemalehumanmalemiddleageneedlesprospectivestudiessupport,non-uKWDsKWDgov'ttuberculosis,lymphnode/KWDdiagnosis/epidemiology/pathologyzambia/epidemiologyjournalarticle
940228
M9420768

Copyright © 1994 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Gill Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Quest Diagnostics, Roche and Trimeris, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 1994. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 1994. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .