Tuberculosis in Children—the Role of Fine Needle Aspiration

Abstract

Two hundred and eighty children with enlarged lymph nodes underwent fine needle aspiration F.N.A.) at The Children’s Hospital & Institute of Child Health, Lahore during the 36 months period from April 1997 to April 2000. Granulomatous lymphadenitis was diagnosed in 92 cases (32.8%). There were 48 males and 44 females and their ages ranged between 1-16 years. The most commonly aspirated nodes were cervical and the most characteristic morphologic features among these cases were epitheliod clusters with or without caseation necrosis. Zeil Neelson stain was positive in four cases and culture for mycobacterium tuberculosis was positive in eight cases.  In most of the cases there was clinical history highly suggestive of tuberculosis followed by a documented response to antituberculous therapy. F.N.A. is an easy and effective way to diagnose tuberculosis in children and it spares surgical intervention.