Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026
Collection, Isolation, and Flow Cytometric Analysis of Human Endocervical Samples
Published on: July 6, 2014
Fine needle aspiration cytology in lymphadenopathy of HIV-positive cases
1Department of Pathology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
Objective:
To evaluate the role of fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) material in 25 HIV-positive cases with lymphadenopathy.
Study Design:
We selected 25 cases for the present study who were enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay positive for HIV (HIV-1). FNAB was performed as a routine, outdoor procedure with informed consent of the patient. For each case, along with routine May-Grünwald-Giemsa and hematoxylin and eosin staining, Ziehl-Neelsen staining for acid-fast bacilli and periodic acid-Schiff staining for fungi were performed wherever necessary.
Results:
A total of 28 sites were aspirated from 25 HIV patients. All these patients were heterosexual, and none had a history of drug abuse. FNAB was performed under ultrasound guidance in all four cases of a retroperitoneal group of lymph nodes. The most common FNAB diagnosis was reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (10), followed by tuberculosis (8). There were three cases diagnosed as fungal infection (two, Cryptococcus; one, histoplasmosis). FNAB of a case of lymph node was suggestive of tuberculosis. There was one case each diagnosed as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and squamous cell carcinoma (metastatic). One case of a small axillary lymph node did not yield representative material.
Conclusion:
FNAB is a relatively inexpensive initial investigative technique in the diagnosis and management of HIV-positive patients. It can obviate the need for surgical excision and enable immediate treatment of specific infections.
