Auramine orange stain with fluorescence microscopy is a rapid and sensitive technique for the detection of cervical lymphadenitis due to mycobacterial infection using fine needle aspiration cytology: a case series

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2005 Sep;133(3):381-5. doi: 10.1016/j.otohns.2005.04.027.

Abstract

Objective: We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of the auramine orange (AO) stain in diagnosing mycobacterial cervical adenitis (MCA) from fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology.

Methods: A retrospective review of 19 patients evaluated at 2 urban hospitals from 2000 to 2003 for suspected MCA. FNA specimens were inoculated to culture media and had direct smears stained by the auramine acid fast method.

Results: Mycobacteria were identified in 16 (84.2%) of 19 AO-stained FNA specimens, with results available within 4 hours. Corresponding cultures were positive for mycobacteria in 12 specimens, 9 tuberculous and 3 nontuberculous, and grew Mycobacterium tuberculosis from the 3 AO-negative specimens. Three of the 4 patients with negative cultures had previously taken anti-mycobacterial medications.

Conclusion: The AO stain with fluorescence microscopy is a sensitive and rapid method for detecting tuberculous and nontuberculous mycobacteria. It is a valuable tool for the otolaryngologists and pathologists in the diagnosis of MCA.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Benzophenoneidum*
  • Biopsy, Fine-Needle
  • Coloring Agents*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence / methods
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycobacterium avium Complex / isolation & purification*
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / isolation & purification*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Time Factors
  • Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / microbiology*
  • Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / pathology*

Substances

  • Coloring Agents
  • Benzophenoneidum