Abstract:
Background: Tuberculosis is the biggest health challenges of the world. Tuberculous
lymphadenopathy is an important of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Fine needle aspiration
cytology (FNAC) is the cost effective and quick method for diagnosis of such lesions. Its
specificity and sensitivity can be improved by using conventional Zheil neelson staining and
fluorescent LED microscopy techniques.
Objectives: To assess mycobacterium and other bacteria positivity in lymphadenopathies (LAP)
with purulent aspirates in patients visiting Jimma University Medical Center (JUMC).
Methods: The study was conducted in department of pathology, cytology unit at Jimma medical
center, from august to December 2017 GC. Patients with peripheral lymphadenopathy attending
cytology department at JUMC having clinical suspicion of tuberculosis and showing purulent
aspirates were enrolled for the study. Samples was collected by pathology residents and
interpreted by pathologists and senior laboratory technologists.
Result and Discussion: 53 TB suspected LAP cases with purulent aspirates underwent
cytomorphologic LED and ZN staininig for AFB out of which mycobacteria infection detected in LAP
49%, 43.4% and 9.4% cases respectively. Combining cytomorrphology with LED techniques increases
the detection rate of FNAC by 15% while AFB staining increases this detection rate by 7.6%. Gram
reaction observed in 17% of cases.
Conclusions: This study reaffirms the usefulness of FNA cytology in the diagnosis of TB lymphadenitis.
We recommend the combined use of routine FNAC with AFB staining and LED techniques to increases
the detection of myocobacterial infection in purulent aspirates .Performing Gram stain further help to
reveal other bacterial causes of suppurative inflammation.
