title: Diagnostic yield of peripheral lymph node needle-core biopsies in HIV-infected adults with suspected smear-negative tuberculosis.
abstract: Significant lymphadenopathy in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected adults in developing countries is usually caused by tuberculosis. We studied the safety and diagnostic yield of needle-core biopsies, under local anaesthetic, of enlarged lymph nodes in 26 HIV-infected adults presenting with suspected tuberculosis who were sputum smear-negative. Biopsy samples were sent for histology and mycobacterial culture. Induced sputum, urine and blood were also sent for mycobacterial culture. The procedure was well tolerated. A definitive diagnosis was made on initial needle-core biopsy in 22 subjects (85%) and in two of three subjects who underwent a second needle-core biopsy. Tuberculosis was the final diagnosis in 24 subjects (92%).
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Nachega
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Chaisson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maartens
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000473:pathology*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D014388:Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / Q000473:pathology