Utility of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology on Evaluation of Lymphadenopathy

Abstract

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is one of the first line investigations advised in a patient with Peripheral Lymphadenopathy. The aim of this study is to determine the diagnostic utility of FNAC in a case with lymphadenopathy and the spectrum of cytological diagnoses associated with Lymphadenopathy. This is a one year retrospective study conducted in the Department of Pathology of VIMSAR, Burla. Patients presenting with Peripheral Lymphadenopathy referred to our cytology department for FNAC were included in our study. Previous records were studied and the corresponding stained smears of the aspirations were retrospectively examined and were categorized according to their diagnoses. Available histologic sections of these cases were correlated. Out of 448 FNAC done on cases of lymphadenopathy, 149(34.81%) were reactive hyperplasia of lymph node, 105(23.44%) were Granulomatous Lymphadenitis, 46(10.27%) were Suppurative Lymphadenitis, 5(1.11%) were Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, 46(10.27%) were non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, 97(21.65%) showed metastatic deposits. 292 cases were histologically correlated. The overall diagnostic accuracy was 88.36%. FNAC serves well in diagnosing the cause of Lymphadenopathy. It has been found to be highly beneficial in cases of Tuberculosis and Metastasis where further radiological and invasive procedures can be avoided.