Cytologic diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis in children by fine needle aspiration

One hundred consecutively diagnosed cases of tuberculous lymphadenitis in children have been analysed retrospectively. All cases were stained by May Grunwald Giemsa for cytomorphology and Ziehl Neelsen stain for acidfast bacilli (AFB). In 52 cases the material was sufficient and AFB cultures were possible. A diagnosis of tuberculosis was made when smears showed epithelioid cell granulomas or AFB on either smears or culture. M. tuberculosis and atypical mucobacteria were cultured in 26 and 3 cases respectively. In 6 cases the diagnosis of tuberculosis would have been missed but for culture studies, the cytologic smears were necrotic and stains for AFB negative.