@article { author = {Khazaei, Sedigheh and Izadi, Babak and Zandieh, Zhaleh and Alvandimanesh, Azadeh and Vaziri, Siavash}, title = {Comparison of Polymerase Chain Reaction, Ziehl-Neelsen Staining and Histopathologic Findings in Formalin-fixed, Paraffin-Embedded Tissue Specimens for Diagnosis of Tuberculosis}, journal = {Iranian Journal of Pathology}, volume = {9}, number = {3}, pages = {206-212}, year = {2014}, publisher = {Farname Inc in collaboration with Iranian Society of Pathology}, issn = {1735-5303}, eissn = {2345-3656}, doi = {}, abstract = {Background and Objective: Tuberculosis is still a major health problem, involving about 1/3 of the world´s population. Diagnosis is difficult when we only use Ziehl-Neelson staining. Many cases may be missed. A more rapid and sensitive diagnostic method is necessary. PCR may be helpful. The aim of this study was to compare PCR, Zieh-Neelsen staining and histopathologic findings in diagnosis of tuberculosis on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues. Methods: Paraffin blocks of the submitted specimens of the patients clinically suspicious for tuberculosis or containing granuloma were selected. Ziehl-Neelsen Staining & TB-PCR (IS6110 element) was carried out. The results of the tests were compared by using the McNemar test. Statistical significance was accepted when the P value was less than 0.05. Results: Forty five specimens were included in the study, 35 had granulomas (19 with caseous necrosis). Acid-fast bacilli were identified in 17 specimens (37.8%). TB-PCR was positive in 16specimens (84%) with caseating granulomatous, 11 specimens (68.8%) with non-caseating granulomas & 6 specimens (60%) without granulomas. (P value = 0.59). Conclusions: TB-PCR on paraffin–embedded tissue is a potentially useful approach for early, rapid and sensitive diagnosis of tuberculosis. It is especially useful when granuloma is seen in tissue section, while acid-fast stain is negative. If there was no facilities for PCR, histopathological diagnosis with clinical correlation are more reliable in comparison to AFB results.}, keywords = {PCR,Staining,pathology,tuberculosis}, url = {https://ijp.iranpath.org/article_7692.html}, eprint = {https://ijp.iranpath.org/article_7692_7dbe09893fb6f3aad736c6bfa6894ecd.pdf} }