Role of fine needle aspiration cytology in evaluation of patients with superficial lymphadenopathy

Abstract

FNAC is to be considered a simple, quick, cost-effective and minimally traumatic procedure for the diagnosis of superficial lymphadenopathy. Aim: To evaluate the role of FNAC in patients with superficial lymphadenopathy and to correlate the cytology findings with histopathology. Materials and Methods: A total of 370 patients who presented with superficial lymphadenopathy at FNAC clinic, University Medical Centre and Government Wenlock Hospital from January 2004 to December 2004 were studied. Results: Majority of the cases were reactive lymphadenitis 128 cases (34.59%) followed by tuberculous lypmphadentitis 91 cases (24.59%) and suppurative lymphadenitis 15 cases (4.05%). Squamous cell carcinoma was most common metastatic carcinoma 81cases (21.89%), mostly from the upper aero-digestive tract, Hodgkin’s lymphoma was diagnosed in 4 (1.08%) and Non- Hodgkin’s in 6 cases (1.62%), 45 cases (12.16%) were labeled inadequate as 34 cases (9.18%) showed only blood and 11cases (2.97%) no opinion could be given because of low cellularity. Tissue examination was available for subsequent histocytological correlation in 53 cases (14.32%). The accuracy of cytodiagnosis was 90.56% with a sensitivity of 90.32%, specificity 90.90%, false negative rate of 0.54% and false positive rate of 0.81%. Conclusion: FNAC is a reliable first line diagnostic tool and has an important place in cytopathology as there is progressive decline in the number of biopsies performed of enlarged nodes after the FNAC diagnosis has been given.