Cytological Study of Cerebrospinal Fluid and Evaluation of its Role in the Diagnosis of Tubercular Meningitis

Central nervous system involvement is the most common neurological complication in the course of tuberculosis. Lack of rapid and sensitive test delays the early diagnosis. Cytological study was carried out in cerebrospinal fluid of patients which were clinically suspected patients of tubercular meningitis. Purpose of this study is to determine the cytomorphological patterns in cerebrospinal fluid which will help in making the diagnosis of tubercular meningitis by providing the additional supportive evidence in clinically suspected cases. Technical aspect of this cytological study is rapid and simple therefore it can be applied for early diagnosis of tubercular meningitis particularly in which bacteriological methods did not demonstrate the presence of mycobacterium bacteria in cerebrospinal fluid.