Role of histopathology in the diagnosis of tuberculous synovitis

A study was conducted on 70 cases of tuberculous synovitis. Maximum number of cases were in the age group of 11-30 years (58.58%) with a male preponderance. Knee joint was found to be most commonly (57.12%) affected. Diagnosis of tuberculous synovitis was possible clinically in 75.72% and radiologically in 67.14% of cases only. Histopathological studies made on biopsy materials obtained from synovial membranes of the affected joints showed the presence of fibrosis, lymphocytic infiltration and epithelioid cells forming typical granuloma of tuberculous lesion. Proliferation of synovial membrane (92.85%), increased number of mast cells (82.95%) and caseation (78.57%) were observed. In all the cases the synovial membrane was of greyish white appearance.