No abstract

Background: The presence of granuloma, visualized in histopathology for diagnosing tuberculosis in tissue samples, is not a specific finding. Moreover, histopathological examination of tissue sections needs one to two weeks for final reporting. A rapid and sensitive method is therefore needed for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in these paucibacillary tissue samples. Methodology: A PCR-assay specific for IS6110 was evaluated for 104 different tissue samples in comparison to histopathology that was considered gold standard. Results: PCR showed 74.1% sensitivity and 96.1% specificity. False positive and false negative results were observed in three (2.88%) and seven (6.73%) samples, respectively. Positive agreement between histopathology and PCR was observed as 0.737, indicating substantial good agreement between two tests. Conclusions: PCR can be used for early diagnosis of tuberculosis in tissue samples that can help to initiate timely anti-tubercular treatment and prevent progression to irreversible changes.

The purpose of the study is to evaluate clinical, radiologic and arthroscopic features of bilateral discoid lateral meniscus and to assess the outcome of arthroscopic meniscectomy. Among the 177 arthroscopies performed for discoid lateral meniscus between January 1993 and January 2004, 12 were bilateral. The clinical and radiologic evaluation was done from the records. The type of discoid meniscus, the type of tear was assessed arthroscopically. All patients underwent arthroscopic meniscectomy. Patients were followed up for a minimum period of 2 years. All patients had pain as presenting symptom. Eight patients presented with bilateral knee pain and four patients developed pain in the opposite knee after the affected knee was treated. The classically described thud was present in 11 knees. The widening of the joint space was found in 13 knee radiographs; 14 knees had complete type, nine had incomplete type and one had ring type of discoid lateral meniscus on arthroscopic evaluation; 20 knees involving 10 complete types, all incomplete types and ring type of discoid lateral meniscus showed obvious meniscal tears. The remaining four meniscus showed softening of a portion of the meniscus. Underlying intra-substance tear was visualized arthroscopically in the softened areas on saucerisation. All but one discoid menisci underwent arthroscopic partial central meniscectomy. When followed up for an average period of 32.6 months 19 knees showed excellent results and 5 knees good results. Possibility of bilaterality should be suspected in discoid lateral meniscus. Softening of meniscus denotes underlying intra-substance tear. This finding has not been described in the literature so far. Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy gives good results in symptomatic bilateral discoid meniscus. This to our knowledge is the largest series of bilateral discoid lateral menisci.

Fibromas that usually occur in the tendon sheaths of the wrist and hand are extremely rare in intra-articular locations. Only five such cases in the knee joint have been reported so far. This is a case report of an intra-articular fibroma of the tendon sheath of the knee joint arising adjacent to posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a well-defined intra-articular lesion in the region of the intercondylar notch of the femur behind the PCL. The mass was excised by arthrotomy. Histopathological study confirmed the diagnosis.

No abstract