Acid-Fast Bacilli in Pleural Biopsy Specimens
- 1 September 1961
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Medical Association (AMA) in Archives of internal medicine (1960)
- Vol. 108 (3) , 438-441
- https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.1961.03620090110013
Abstract
The value of pleural biopsy in the differential diagnosis of pleural effusion is well established.1,6 However, the frequency with which acid-fast bacilli have been reported in stained sections of needle biopsy specimens has been unimpressive. All too frequently the report of a granulomatous reaction which is compatible with tuberculosis must be accepted as a basis for treatment, with stains for acid-fast bacilli being either negative or even omitted. In this hospital we have recently used the Harefield needle, which was developed in England.3 It is the increased frequency with which acid-fast bacilli have been demonstrated in these needle biopsy specimens of the pleura which prompts this brief report at this time. Methods and Patient Material Previous reports have dealt with both open surgical biopsy and closed needle biopsy.1,6 Of the needle biopsies, the majority have been done with a Vim-Silverman aspiration needle, although Cope2 has reportedThis publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit:
- PLEURAL BIOPSY AS AN AID IN THE ETIOLOGIC DIAGNOSIS OF PLEURAL EFFUSION: REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE AND REPORT OF 132 BIOPSIESAnnals of Internal Medicine, 1958