Diagnosis of tuberculosis of bone and soft tissue by fine-needle aspiration biopsy

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy is a well-established procedure in the detection of various neoplastic processes. However, there are only limited reports on the efficacy of this technique in nonneoplastic conditions. In this study, fine-needle aspiration cytology findings of bone and soft tissue lesions in 11 patients with tuberculosis are reported. Spine, scapula, chest wall, flank areas, tibia, ring, and index fingers were the sites of fine-needle aspiration biopsies. The age of the patients ranged from 21 to 65 years. Granulomatous reaction with or without caseation necrosis was seen in 73%. The aspirated material was acellular or predominantly composed of necrotic material and inflammatory infiltrates in 27%. Acid-fast bacilli (AFB) could be demonstrated in 64%. Culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis was positive in 83%. This study supports previous suggestions that fine-needle aspiration biopsy is a simple alternative to open biopsy for the diagnosis of TB of bone and soft tissue lesions.