Diagnostic utility of polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical techniques for the laboratory diagnosis of intracranial tuberculoma
Sumi, M.G.; Mathai, A.; Sheela, R.; Radhakrishnan, N.S.; Radhakrishnan, V.V.; Indhulekshmy, R.; Mundayoor, S.
Clinical Neuropathology 20(4): 176-180
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0722-5091 PMID: 11495007 Document Number: 530965
In an attempt to establish a tuberculous etiology, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemical (IHC) methods were undertaken in formalin-fixed paraffin sections of ten surgical specimens of intracranial tuberculoma. The control group included an equal number of intracranial fungal granuloma. Both PCR and IHC methods did not yield false-positive results in fungal granuloma. PCR was found to be less sensitive (60%) than IHC method (80%) in this study. IHC method definitely possesses several operational advantages over PCR and is more suited to laboratories in developing countries for establishing a tuberculous etiology particularly in those patients in whom the conventional bacteriological methods did not confirm the diagnosis of tuberculoma.