Fine needle aspiration cytology in lymphadenopathy of HIV-positive cases.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) material in 25 HIV-positive cases with lymphadenopathy.


METHODS
We selected 25 cases for the present study who were enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay positive for HIV (HIV-1). FNAB was performed as a routine, outdoor procedure with informed consent of the patient. For each case, along with routine May-Grünwald-Giemsa and hematoxylin and eosin staining, Ziehl-Neelsen staining for acid-fast bacilli and periodic acid-Schiff staining for fungi were performed wherever necessary.


RESULTS
A total of 28 sites were aspirated from 25 HIV patients. All these patients were heterosexual, and none had a history of drug abuse. FNAB was performed under ultrasound guidance in all four cases of a retroperitoneal group of lymph nodes. The most common FNAB diagnosis was reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (10), followed by tuberculosis (8). There were three cases diagnosed as fungal infection (two, Cryptococcus; one, histoplasmosis). FNAB of a case of lymph node was suggestive of tuberculosis. There was one case each diagnosed as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and squamous cell carcinoma (metastatic). One case of a small axillary lymph node did not yield representative material.


CONCLUSIONS
FNAB is a relatively inexpensive initial investigative technique in the diagnosis and management of HIV-positive patients. It can obviate the need for surgical excision and enable immediate treatment of specific infections.
Saikia
U N
UN
Department of Pathology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
Dey
P
P
Jindal
B
B
Saikia
B
B
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000191:economics; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D015497:HIV-1; D016591:Histocytological Preparation Techniques / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D016483:Lymphoma, AIDS-Related / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D014388:Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology