Role of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology in the Rapid Diagnosis of Pulmonary Infections in Renal Allograft Recipients with Respiratory Failure
Pavneet Kaur Selhi, Harmandeep Singh Chahal, Heena Wadhwa, Simran Kaur, Kanwarpal Singh Selhi, Harpreet Kaur, Anil Kumar Kashyap, Akashdeep Singh- Nephrology
Background:
Renal transplantation is the treatment of choice in patients with end-stage renal disease. However, allograft recipients are at a higher risk of infection due to immunosuppressive therapies. This study aimed to analyze the utility of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) lung in the etiological diagnosis of pulmonary infections in renal allograft recipients with respiratory failure.
Materials and Methods:
This is a retrospective study done in post-renal transplant patients presenting with pulmonary infections and respiratory failure in the past 7 years, in whom image-guided lung FNAC was done for diagnosis.
Results:
A total of 35 renal allograft recipients presenting with respiratory failure and having focal or diffuse pulmonary opacities (lesions) on radiological imaging were subjected to lung FNAC. The mean age of the patients was 41.1 ± 11.8 years (range 19–72), with the majority being males (
Conclusion:
Lung FNAC is a useful for establishing the etiological diagnosis of pulmonary lesions in renal transplant patients with respiratory failure.