Fine needle aspiration cytology of tuberculosis of the lumbar vertebrae (Pott's disease)
Silverman, J.F.; Larkin, E.W.; Carney, M.; Weaver, M.D.; Norris, H.T.
Acta Cytologica 30(5): 538-542
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-5547 PMID: 3465148 Document Number: 278243
The cytomorphologic features of tuberculosis of the lumbar vertebra having a granulomatous pattern diagnosed by fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy are reported in a 72-year-old woman with a prior history of malignant lymphoma treated by chemotherapy. Cytologic examination revealed microtissue fragments of cohesive cells, including epithelioid histiocytes and scattered, multinucleated Langhans-type giant cells. This is believed to be the first reported case of vertebral tuberculosis (Pott's disease) diagnosed by FNA cytology and confirmed by culture of the aspirate material. This case illustrates the value of DNA cytology in the diagnosis of nonneoplastic skeletal lesions and confirms the value of FNA biopsy in the early detection of infectious processes in patients with malignancy.