Individual and combined diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound diagnosis, ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration and polymerase chain reaction in identifying tuberculous lymph nodes in the neck.

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of, both individually and in combination, ultrasound (US) diagnosis, US-guided fine-needle aspiration (US-FNA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in diagnosing tuberculous lymph nodes in the neck (i.e., tuberculous cervical lymph nodes [TCLs]). Eighty-two patients who underwent US diagnosis, US-FNA and PCR for clinical suspicion of TCLs were enrolled. Of the 82 patients, 31 were confirmed as having TCLs. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and accuracy of US diagnosis, US-FNA and PCR were 93.5%, 76.5%, 70.7%, 95.1% and 82.9%; 64.5%, 98.0%, 95.2%, 82.0% and 85.4%; and 100%, 96.1%, 93.9%, 100% and 97.6%, respectively. The diagnostic values of PCR alone and in combination with US-FNA were found to be higher than those of other methods. No US feature with high sensitivity and specificity was identified.