To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology Identifies Noncompliance in Children Taking Antituberculous Medication: Presented at ASCP URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/22EFB2.htm Doctor's Guide October 17, 2008
By Maggie Schwarz BALTIMORE, Md -- October 17, 2008 -- Fine-needle aspiration cytology offers an effective way to diagnose noncompliance with antituberculous medication, is inexpensive, and is readily available, according to a study presented here at the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) 2008 Annual Meeting. "In developing countries, polymerase chain reaction -- which gives immediate results -- is not available for diagnosing noncompliance with antituberculous medication," asserted researcher Sufian Zaheer, MD, Department of Pathology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital, Aligarh, India. Therapeutic failures in antituberculous therapy are common in children and need to be identified so that medications can be restarted. Dr. Zaheer and his colleagues set out to determine whether fine-needle aspiration cytology can accurately diagnose untreated tuberculosis or tuberculosis that has undergone a lapse in treatment. He presented the study's findings on October 16. Tuberculosis remains a major health problem in the less developed nations and is now also a major health problem in developed countries, owing to the emergence of HIV infection and AIDS, Dr. Zaheer explained. Despite the availability of effective chemotherapies, however, patient noncompliance with regimens is the most common reason for therapeutic failures. Compliance is particularly difficult to achieve in children because they are totally dependent on their parents. A total of 305 children diagnosed with tuberculosis on the basis of x-ray, fine-needle aspiration cytology, and acid-fast bacilli staining and/or culture were assessed for drug compliance by cervical lymph node fine-needle aspiration cytology. Fifteen cases were found to be drug defaulters on detailed and meticulous follow-up. Patients receiving inadequate chemotherapy were found to have splintered epithelioid cell granuloma with focal increase in fibrous elements, the researchers found. Dr. Zaheer and the investigators concluded that fine-needle aspiration cytology was effective for identification of patients who were noncompliant with therapy. [Presentation title: Splintered Tubercular Granuloma: A Consistent Cytological Finding in Drug Defaulters. Abstract P653] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.