Fine needle aspiration: sensitivity and specificity (77 and 93% respectively)
Excisional biopsy (if FNA is not diagnostic)
highest diagnostic yield
Submit specimens for histology, culture, and Nucleic acid amplification testing
caseating granulomas on histopathology is highly suggestive of TB
CT can be useful to identify involved lymph nodes for biopsy
CXR: most do not have evidence of active pulmonary TB in nonendemic countries
Sputum smear and culture: positive only in approximately 20% of cases
highest diagnostic yield
Submit specimens for histology, culture, and Nucleic acid amplification testing
caseating granulomas on histopathology is highly suggestive of TB
Tuberculous lymphadenitis
Reactive adenitis
Tuberculosis
Bacterial lymphadenitis
Cryptococcosis
Hodgkin's lymphoma
Cellulitis
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma