Pulmonary cytology in tuberculosis

A review was made of 138 sputa, 4 bronchial washings and 4 bronchial aspirates from 64 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. The cytologic findings that may indicate granulomatous involvement were epithelioid cells, giant cells, lymphocytes and a necrotic background. Cell-block preparations stained by the Ziehl-Neelsen technique gave a positivity for acid-fast bacilli similar to that of bacterioscopy. This study emphasizes the potential diagnostic value of inflammatory alterations, even when the main objective of pulmonary cytology is the diagnosis of neoplasia; the finding of epithelioid cells and giant cells in a necrotic background may indicate a specific granulomatous involvement.