Characteristics and Management of Spinal Tuberculosis in Tuberculosis Endemic Area of Guizhou Province: A Retrospective Study of 597 Patients in a Teaching Hospital

Table 1

Algorithm for patient categorization into different categories of the composite reference standard.

CRS category	Result
	AFB smear	Culture	Symptoms/signs^a	Radiology^b	Histology/cytologyun^c	Follow-up at 3 mo^d
Confirmed TB	+/−	+	+	+/−	+/−	+
Probable TB	+/−	−	+	+	+	+
	+/−	−	+	+	−	+
	+/−	−	+	−	+	+
Possible TB	+/−	−	+	−	−	+
Not TB	−	−	+	−	−	−

^aWeight loss, persistent cough, and fever for 2 to 3 weeks. ^bFor radiology, a specimen was positive if the presence of infiltrates or cavities, hilar lymph nodes, pleural effusions, or tuberculomas was noted. ^cFor histology/cytology, a specimen was positive if the presence of caseation necrosis with epitheloid granulomas was reported irrespective of the visual presence or absence of acid-fast bacilli. ^dFor follow-up at 3 months, a specimen was positive if the patient was on antitubercular treatment (ATT) and negative if the patient responded to non-ATT.