The utility of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology in the Diagnosis of Lymphadenopathy

Abstract

Introduction: The causes of lymphadenopathy may be varied ranging from reactive to neoplastic.Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology(FNAC) is a simple and inexpensive diagnostic tool to sample cellsfrom superficial and accessible sites. Aims: This study was undertaken to assess the utility of FNACin evaluating lymphadenopathy and to study the cytomorphological spectrum of lymph node lesionsin our region. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional study of two years duration, on patients withlymphadenopathy who came to the Pathology Department for FNAC. Methods and materials:Cytology findings of Lymph node lesions were classified into four categories and were compared withhistopathology diagnosis as the gold standard. Statistical Analysis: Data was tabulated accordingto various parameters. Sensitivity, Specificity, PPV, NPV, and Diagnostic accuracy for detectingmalignancy were calculated. Results: The age range of patients included in the present studyranged from 9 to – 78 years. The mean age is 48.92 years and the median is 52 years. Thecytological diagnosis was classified as reactive in 20 cases (32.7%), inflammatory in 16 cases(26.2%), lymphoma in 3 cases (4.9%), and 22 cases (36.1%) were metastasis from other sites.Following histopathology, the cases were diagnosed to be 19 reactive lymphadenopathies, 14inflammatory lesions, 5 lymphomas, and 23 metastasis. The most common site of lymphadenopathywas the cervical region. Conclusions: FNAC has high sensitivity and specificity in differentiatingbenign lesions from malignant ones. The age, clinical findings, and supporting investigations shouldbe taken into account while diagnosing a lesion as benign or malignant.