Cytomorphologic patterns in Calmette Guerin bacillus lymphadenitis.
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.
Gupta
K
K
Department of Pathology, University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi, India.
Singh
N
N
Bhatia
A
A
Arora
V K
VK
Singh
U R
UR
Singh
B
B
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
D001500:BCG Vaccine