title: Fine needle aspiration biopsy of spleen in kala-azar.
abstract: Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of spleen was done in 88 suspected cases of Kala-azar. Leishmania donovani (LD) bodies were demonstrated in 56 cases (63.7%) and malarial parasites in 2 (2.3%) while one (1.1%) had picture of chronic myeloid leukemia and another (1.1%) showed acid fast bacilli (AFB) on Ziehl Neelsen staining. Thirty two cases (36.4%), where LD bodies were not found, were subjected to bone marrow examination and none showed LD bodies. There were no complications after FNAB even though 6 patients were having epistaxis. FNAB of spleen is a simple, economical, safe and reliable diagnostic procedure which can be adopted even in remote areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Nalanda Medical College and Hospital, Patna.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sharan
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Sinha
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007893:Leishmania donovani; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000473:pathology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology*