Tuberculosis

Question 1

What are the histopathological findings of tuberculosis?

Answer 1

Granuloma formation with caseating necrotic cores

Question 2

What are epitheloid histiocytes and what do they merge to form?

Answer 2

Epitheloid histiocytes are activated macrophages which fuse together to form giant cells

Question 3

What is a Ghon focus?

Answer 3

A Ghon lesion (sometimes called Ghon focus) represents a tuberculous caseating granuloma (tuberculoma) and represents the sequelae of primary pulmonary tuberculosis infection.

Question 4

What is a Ghon complex?

Answer 4

Ghon’s complex is a lesion seen in the lung that is caused by tuberculosis. The lesions consist of a calcified focus of infection and an associated lymph node. These lesions are particularly common in children and can retain viable bacteria, making them sources of long-term infection and may be involved in reactivation of the disease in later life.

Question 5

What are the symptoms associated with TB?

Answer 5

Fever, weight loss, fatigue, night sweats (TNF-alpha) cough (+/- haemoptysis)

Question 6

Where do TB lesions typically present?

Answer 6

In the apices of the lung

Question 7

What is the treatment of Tb?

Answer 7

Rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, ethambutol.

Question 8

What stains are used to identify mycobacterium tuberculosis?

Answer 8

Tb can stain either gram positive of negative and so this is not an adequate test.
An acid fast stain is a far better mode of detecting mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Auramine stains can also be used to detect TB