Fluorescence microscopy of mycobacteria in pleural effusions

Fluorescence microscopy of mycobacteria in pleural effusions The diagnostic advantage of fluorescence microscopy (FM) of Papanicolaou-stained cytological specimens obtained by bronchoscopy has been described previously. This study was designed to evaluate the method's diagnostic benefit in cytological pre- parations of pleural effusions in cases of active pulmonary tuberculosis. In contrast to bronchial material there is no advantage in cytological evaluation of pleural effusions by FM.