Spectrum of Cytological Findings In Patients with Superficial Lymphadenopathy: A Five Year Retrospective Study

Abstract

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.

Spectrum of cytological finding in superficial lymphnode enlargement in a tertiary care center-retrospective study

“…It may be due to various reasons, ranges from reactive, inflammatory to malignancies. Sometime, the patient present withlymphnode enlargement as initi search for the primary.Our results are comparable with other Indian study with males more affected than females (1.2:1) and where majority of the cases belonged to age group of 1 reactive lymphadenitis (52.3%) [7]. We also observed in our study that majority of the patients belonging to pediatric age group, under 14 years, presented with reactive lymphadenitis in 171 cases (11.1%) of granulomatous lymphadenitis.These results are comparable with other Indian studies, where, in older age, more than 65 years of age, the major cause of lymphadenopathy is metastatic deposits [8].…”

“…In our present study, we observed that most common site of lymph node enlargement was cervical group of lymph nodes, followed by axillary group of lymph nodes and inguinal group of lymph nodes. Similar observations were also reported by other Indian studies [3,7,9]. In all these group of lym lymphadenitis followed by granulomatous lymphadenitis which is similar to studies done by Pandey P et al [4].…”

“…We also observed in our study that majority of the patients belonging to pediatric age %), which is followed by 22 cases (11.1%) of granulomatous lymphadenitis.These results are comparable with other Indian studies, where, in older age, Out of 770 cases of superficial lymphadenopathies 703 cases showed malignancy. Similar findings were observed in other studies done by Gaur R et al [7]. However, this is in contrast to studies done in western countries which be owing to the reason that, in our study, bulk of diseaseswere of reactive in nature, due to infections or tubercular lesions which are uncommon in western countries [4].…”

“…Tumor giantcells were also seen in one or two cases [11]. showed benign lesion, whereas, 67 cases (8.7%) Similar findings were observed in other studies done by Gaur R et al [7]. However, this is in contrast showed an increase in malignant lesions than benign lesions [4,8].…”

“…Tumor giantcells were also seen in one or two cases [11]. of superficial lymphadenopathies 703 cases (91%) showed benign lesion, whereas, 67 Similar findings were observed in other studies done by Gaur R et al [7]. However, this is in contrast to studies done in western countries which showed an increase in malignant lesions than benign lesions be owing to the reason that, in our study, bulk of diseaseswere of reactive in nature, due to infections or tubercular lesions which are uncommon in western countries [4].…”