DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY OF FNAC IN CERVICAL LYMPHADENOPATHY

Abstract

Introduction:- To study the role of FNAC in diagnosing cervical lymphadenopathy as compared to open biopsy for histopathological examination. Material And Methods:- The present study is carried out at SVS Medical College And Hospital, Mahabubnagar, over a period of two years from November 2020 to March 2022. The study consists of 50 consecutive cases, diagnosis is based on pathological ndings. Inclusion Criteria - Patients more than 12 years of age and Patients presenting with cervical lymph node enlargement. Exclusion Criteria - Patients less than 12 years of age, All other neck swellings other than cervical lymphadenopathy. Patients where FNAC and/or Biopsy of the node could not be carried out were excluded. Results :- According to Age Distribution - Out of 50 cases, maximum number of cases were in the age group of 21-30 years, Next common in the age group of 12- 20 years, Thus the second and third decade constituting 30 of the 50 cases (60%), Lowest age recorded was 12 years of age and highest 82 years of age. According to Sex Distribution - Out of the 50 cases studied, 28 cases were males and 22 cases females, The male to female ratio was 1.27 : 0.78. According to Sensitivity and Specicity - accuracy of 98.50% for tuberculous lymphadenopathy to histological correlation. Conclusion:- Cervical lymphadenopathy is an important disease, commonly come across, and always calls for meticulous attention, analysis and treatment. FNAC being inexpensive, quick in getting the results and easy to perform as an out patient procedure under local anesthesia, is one of the important and essential diagnostic procedure. FNAC can be deemed as a frontline investigation. If it is diagnostic it can avoid unnecessary excision biopsy for the cases which can be managed conservatively