Asher Ahmed Mashhood, Iqbal Muhammad Khan, Shagufta Nasir, Humayun Agha, Muhammad Saleem, Arshi Imran.
Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology versus histopathology in the diagnosis of cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Pakistan
J Coll Physicians Surg Pak Feb 2005;15(2):71-3.
CMH, Peshawar

Objective: To compare FNAC with histopathology as an alternate method of diagnosing cutaneous leishmaniasis. Design: Comparative study. Place and Duration of Study: The duration of the study was from August 2003 to April 2004 at CMH, Peshawar. Materials and Methods: A total of 40 patients were included in this study. They were referred from various areas of North-West Frontier Province. FNAC and skin biopsy was performed on every patient. Haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain was used for both procedures. Results: The study group included 39 males and one female, their age ranging from 8-60 years with a mean age of 31.97 years. Detection of LT bodies was considered as a single criterion of the positive result. Histopathological examination was able to diagnose 14 out of 40 patients (positive yield of 35%), while FNAC picked up 11 out of 40 patients (positive yield of 27.5%). Conclusion: FNAC is easier, less painful and more cost-effective than the conventional skin biopsy. The high sensitivity and specificity eliminate the need for other time-consuming and invasive procedures. However, if LT bodies are not detected then any further comment cannot be made regarding the diagnosis and it is necessary to perform skin biopsy.

Category: Dermatology
Keywords: Leishmaniasis. Leishmania. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology. FNAC. Histopathology.

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