Please Note: Due to volume considerations, not all questions can be answered. Questions most likely to be answered will be those of general interest to a broad group of visitors to this forum. Questions pertaining to a specific case; requests for diagnosis, medical advice, or second opinion; or requests for opinions about untested alternative therapies will generally not be answered.
|
|
 |  |
 |
 |
Not TB, What It could be?
Jan 13, 2002
Dear Doc,
I found a lump before 4 months in my right arm pit. i had excisional biopsi and the pathologist said caseous granulomatous inflamation. I went to infectious deeasse specialist. He asked for tissue culture and started medication for TB (as you answered me a month ago). Now, tissue culture do not show anything. My HIV test came out to be negative.
How reliable are these tests? My only exposure was 12 yrs ago and my blood counts and chem panels and x-ray is fine. Should I be assured with the result of the HIV test?
Now, my doctor wants to do CT scan of the whole body to see if there is some thing.
I have been started with the suspicion of HIV and TB and end up with nothing. What it could be?
If lymphoma, should the patholost not found the malignant cell?
Please answer me, what do you think?
|
 |
|
 |
|
Response from Dr. Feinberg
There are other infections besides TB that can cause granulomatous inflammation such as histoplasmosis, but caseous granulomas are pretty specific for TB. The findings from your biopsy are not at all consistent with a diagnosis of lymphoma. Luckily, your HIV test is negative, and if your possible exposure was 12 years ago, then the HIV test result is very reliable. CT scan may show evidence of an abnormality at another site that can be evaluated, and is a reasonable thing to do. You may also want to have the slides from your biopsy sent to an expert pathologist for a second opinion. Good luck!
|
|
|
 Please remember that this forum is designed for educational purposes only, and experts are not engaged through this
forum in rendering legal or medical advice or professional services. Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible
for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither The Body nor any sponsor is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.
Questions and messages posted to this forum are not statements of advice, opinion, or information of The Body, Body Health Resources Corporation or any sponsor of this
forum. While neither The Body nor Body Health Resources Corporation regularly reviews posted content, we reserve the right to delete, move, or
edit postings if we deem it appropriate under the circumstances. Visitors submitting questions remain solely responsible for the content of their
messages.
Information provided by experts is general only and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease, or relied upon as
legal or other professional advice. This information is not a substitute for professional advice or care. If you have or suspect you may have a
health or legal problem, you should consult your own health care provider or your attorney.
Copyright notice.
|
|
|
|
