The Role of Various Laboratory Techniques for Diagnosis of Palpable Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis - A District Hospital based Retrospective Study

Background: EPTB is TB outside lung. The protean manifestation of EPTB can involve almost any system of the body. The study attempts to determine the prevalence of EPTB presenting as palpable lumps using combination of various diagnostic techniques. Method: Retrospective study was conducted. Data were collected from Pathology and Microbiology record books of North District Hospital. The analysis of all palpable EPTB diagnosed by FNAC from April2016 to March 2021 was done. Demographic data included age, sex, site affected. Study of gross aspirate, cytomorphology with NAAT, AFB and culture was done. Results: 66.38% of PTB and 33.62% of EPTB were seen. The commonest site was cervical lymph node (67.2%). Women were more affected (51.4%) than men (48.5%). Cheesy and purulent aspirate showed higher percentage of AFB and NAAT positivity. The sensitivity of AFB (53.6%) and NAAT (76.2%). Conclusion: EPTB is a complex disease and needs an appropriate, early tissue based diagnosis adjuvant with other microbiological tests which are reliable, economical and can be used for rapid diagnosis. This will help in directed treatment and avoid developing resistance. High incidence of EPTB needs further study.