Superficial lymphadenopathy is ranked among the most common clinical findings encountered in medical practice. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a veritable tool for the assessment and diagnosis of superficial lymph node enlargement. The aim of our study is to see the profile of superficial lymphadenopathy in our region and the role of FNAC in the definite diagnosis of cause of lymphadenopathy. In this 5 years study a total of 1188 patients with superficial lymphadenopathy were referred from the out patients clinics for cytological examination. FNAC was performed using 23 gauge needle attached to 20ml syringe. Aspirated materials were smeared into 2-3 slides which were stained with May Grunwald Giemsa (MGG) stain and using Dibutyl Phathalate Xylene (D.P.X) mountant were prepared for cytological examination. Five year data was collected and compiled into various categories. The cervical region was involved in most of the cases (90.15%) followed by the axillary region (6.98%) and lastly by inguinal region (2.3%). Tubercular lymphadenitis (53.9%) was the commonest cause of lymphadenopathy followed by reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (28.8%), metastasis (13.4%) and lymphomas (2.86%). Squamous cell carcinoma (9.5%) followed by adenocarcinoma (3.9%) were the most frequent metastatic tumors. FNAC is a useful diagnostic tool in the management of patients presenting with lymphadenopathy and should be considered before more invasive and costly procedures are performed, particularly in developing countries.

Lymphadenitis is the most common extra pulmonary manifestation of tuberculosis. Tuberculous lymphadenitis is considered to be the local manifestation of the systemic disease. A high index of

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