title: Diagnosis of mediastinal mycobacterial lymphadenopathy by transbronchial needle aspiration.
abstract: A 35-year-old man with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) presented with a multitude of constitutional symptoms, fever, and marked intrathoracic lymphadenopathy. Results of initial diagnostic examination were unrevealing, and bronchoscopy with fine-gauge flexible transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) of subcarinal lymph nodes was performed. Two aspirates were obtained, one for cytologic study and the other for acid-fast smear. Despite obtaining acid-fast smears from numerous sites, only TBNA provided evidence of acid-fast organisms and prompted early antimycobacterial therapy. We believe this is the first report of mycobacterial intrathoracic lymphadenopathy diagnosed by TBNA.
authors.affiliation: New York University Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, New York.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Baron
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Aranda
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D006801:Humans; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015270:Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011859:Radiography