title: Cytomorphologic patterns in Calmette Guerin bacillus lymphadenitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the cytomorphologic patterns of Calmette Guerin bacillus (BCG) lymphadenitis and compare it to those of tuberculous lymphadenitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cytomorphologic study of 136 cases of clinically diagnosed BCG adenitis. All fine needle aspiration smears of lymphadenitis in the age group 2 months to 2 years during a three-and-half-year period were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three distinct cytomorphologic patterns were seen in 112 cases. They were acid-fast bacilli in a necrotic background (62), granulomas with necrosis (47) and granulomas in a reactive lymphoid background (3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cytomorphologic patterns in BCG lymphadenitis were similar to those seen in tuberculous lymphadenitis; however, an exudative response and high acid-fast bacillus positivity was seen more frequently in BCG lymphadenitis. Moreover, Ziehl-Neelsen staining helped to distinguish these cases from pyogenic abscesses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi, India.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhatia
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Arora
authors.forename: U R
authors.initials: UR
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008199:Lymphadenitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014388:Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D001500:BCG Vaccine