Dear Sir,We appreciate the interest shown in our case report[1] and the opportunity to clarify the queries raised by the learned reader.[2]The definition of tuberculous abscess raised in the query is not entirely correct.[3] I would like to quote a recent study from a reputed institute of our country.[4] On histopathology, Chakraborti et al. found that tubercular abscess closely resembles pyogenic abscess and clues to tubercular origin were the presence of palisading epithelioid cells and sheets of foamy histiocytes. Also, demonstration of acid-fast bacilli in the wall of the abscess or necrotic content by microscopy or culture is essential to confirm the diagnosis of tuberculous abscess.We agree that we should have discussed that in greater detail in our case report and we thank the reader for bringing it to our notice.
Authors: Shrijeet Chakraborti; Anita Mahadevan; Aparna Govindan; S Nagarathna; Vani Santosh; T C Yasha; B Indira Devi; B A Chandramouli; Jerry M E Kovoor; A Chandramuki; S K Shankar Journal: Pathol Res Pract Date: 2009-07-15 Impact factor: 3.250