CYTOLOGICAL AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL CORRELATIVE STUDY OF LYMPH NODES IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Context: 1 Lymph nodes are one of the most frequently sampled tissues and lymphadenopathy are rst evaluated by ne needle aspiration cytology . Lymphadenopathy is one of the commonest presentations in surgical department with varied etiology ranging from Reactive, Inammatory condition to malignancy. Aims: The aim of present study was to evaluate the correlation between the cytological and histopathological diagnosis of lymph node FNAC and Biopsies and to evaluate the sensitivity, specicity and predictive value of FNAC of lymph nodes diagnosed as tuberculosis and metastatic carcinoma. Settings and Design: The study is done in SMMCHRI for a period of one year which included a total of 174 patients referred from surgical department who underwent FNAC of lymph nodes, out of which 89 patients had lymph node biopsies for histopathological evaluation. Methods and Material: Aspiration smears and histopathological slides were evaluated and results were calculated for sensitivity, specicity and predictive value of FNAC and henceforth Cytological and Histopathological correlation is studied. Statistical analysis used: Sensitivity, Specicity, Predictive value and Diagnostic accuracy are calculated Results: Reactive lymphadenitis was seen in 35 patients followed by tubercular granulomatous lymphadenitis in 26 patients and malignant lesions in 28 patients. Correlating the ndings, we could achieve 100% sensitivity and 96.9% specicity for tubercular lymphadenopathy and 100% and 98.6% for metastatic deposits respectively. Conclusions: We have found FNAC as a satisfactory tool in diagnosis of tubercular and malignant lymphadenopathy. FNAC when used in conjunction with clinical, radiological and laboratory investigations can be a cost-effective method for the diagnosis of lymphadenopathy