Comparative Study of Truenat with Cytomorphology and AFB Positivity for Diagnosis of TB Lymphadentitis in Tertiary Care Hospital

Introduction: Lymph node TB (LNTB) is the most common form of Extra Pulmonary TB (EPTB) in India. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a simple diagnostic technique but cytomorphological features of LNTB can overlap with lesions other than TB. Conventional smear microscopy with the Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) stain is an easy method for detecting acid-fast bacilli (AFB). Now a days, Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) is the only rapid test currently recommended by the WHO for TB diagnosis. Aim and Objectives: To compare the TRUENAT with FNAC finding and AFB positivity by ZN staining and to study the association of TRUENAT and AFB positivity with cytomorphological patterns. Study Design: An observational cross-sectional hospital-based study. Material and Methods: One hundred patients were subjected to FNAC and TRUENAT was performed. Result of TRUENAT was compared with cytological findings and AFB positivity. Results: Out of 100 patients 55% were TRUENAT positive for TB while ZN staining for AFB was positive in only 42% cases indicating that more cases were diagnosed by TRUENAT. Conclusion: TRUENAT on FNA samples is more efficient diagnostic test in suspected TB Lymphadenitis. However, it can’t replace the FNAC for diagnosis of TB Lymphadenitis.