Combined use of fine needle aspiration cytology and polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis of cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis.

Although fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is an effective mean for the diagnosis of cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis (CTL), it still poses a certain degree of false negative and false positive. The objective of this study was to determine the efficiency of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in combination with fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of CTL. Thirty three patients who presented with enlarged cervical lymph nodes, and were clinically suggestive of CTL were included in the study. Fine needle aspiration or surgical biopsy of lymph nodes was performed, the specimens were studied for cytology, acid fast bacilli stain, culture for mycobacteria and PCR technique. The sensitivity and specificity of FNAC was 48 per cent and 87.5 per cent respectively, while that of PCR was 84 per cent and 75 per cent respectively. When FNAC and PCR were combined, the sensitivity and specificity increased to 84 per cent and 100 per cent respectively. We concluded that FNAC in combination with the PCR technique is a fast and effective clinical diagnostic approach for CTL.