Spectrum of pathologies on FNAC evaluation of peripheral lymph nodes at a tertiary care center in hyderabad: a retrospective study

Abstract

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) [fine needle aspiration Cytology (FNAC)] technique was first introduced by Greig and Grey. 1 Since the 1960's, it has been used extensively as a diagnostic tool for rapid evaluation of mainly superficial lesions, especially of lymph nodes. It is cost effective, relatively less traumatic, and enables the pathologist to provide the clinician with a diagnosis in a very short time, and hence is ideal especially for OP patients. 2 Lymphadenopathy is a commonly encountered clinical entity. The diagnosis of the cause underlying the enlarged lymph node(s) enables the clinician to plan appropriate management for each patient. Enlarged superficial lymph nodes are easily amenable to evaluation by FNA technique and hence FNAC forms an important diagnostic tool in the armamentarium of the pathologist. 3 While histopathological evaluation of surgically excised lymph nodes is a more specific and accurate diagnostic parameter, it is relatively more costly, time consuming and discomfiting to the patient, and may not be warranted in every patient. FNAC is more cost effective and relatively non-invasive. 4 FNAC evaluation may prevent a patient having to undergo unnecessary surgery and permit the treating clinician to offer conservative therapy instead.

Study of fine needle aspiration cytology evaluation of peripheral lymph nodes

“…In the present study it was observed that most of the patients (50%) were in the age group of 11 to 30 years and small number of patients were seen in the age group In the present study female (58%) patients approximately 1.5 times higher than male (42%) patients. Duraiswami R et al also found a preponderance of female patients (61%) which is similar to the present study [9]. Shrivastav A et al observed that in pediatric and adolescents' age group the most common cause of lymphadenopathy was reactive hyperplasia 198 cases out of total 378 cases (52.38%) [10].…”

“…In the present study Granulomatous lymphadenitis was the second most common (28%) cytological diagnosis. Duraiswami R et al found Granulomatous lymphadenitis was the second most common diagnosis (37.15%; 94 out of 253 FNA evaluations) in their study [9].…”

Aspiration cytology study of lymphadenopathy: Is EPTB a common pathology? A three-year retrospective study in Melmaruvathur teaching hospital

“…In our study the predominant age group affected with lymphadenopathy were between 5-10 years among children (57%) and 15-30 years among adult (52%) whereas study by Srivatsav showed predominance of lymphadenopathy among 21-50 years (49.11%) followed by 0-20 years (36.98%) [4] . Our study showed females preponderance for lymphadenopathy (60%) especially among adult between 15-30 years of age than male which was supported by other studies where the female predominance observed were 55% and 61% respectively [5,6] . Similar to other studies, cervical lymphadenopathy was a common presentation in our study.…”

Morphological patterns of FNAC of lymph nodes

“…In few studies axillary group was second most common group affected (Sumyra Khurshid Qadri et al) 8 and in few sub mental group of lymph nodes were second most common group involved (Ripunjaya mohanty et al). 9 The most common morphological pattern of lymphadenopathy in our study was reactive nonspecific lymphadenitis which is in accordance with Nitin chawla et al, 7 Ripunjay mohanty et al, 9 Duraiswami et al, 10 Atul shrivastav et al Granulomatous lymphadenitis and Tubercular lymphadenitis were more common than reactive non specific lymphadenitis. It could be because their study composed more of adult population than paediatric population as granulomatous lymphadenitis is most common cause of lymphadenitis in case of adult population as per most literature.…”