Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology in Cervical Lymphadenopathy; A Key to Divergent Locks.

Abstract

Cervical lymphadenopathy is ranked among the most common clinical findings encountered in patients with multiple diseases ranging from benign to malignant lesions. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is an effective tool for the assessment and diagnosis of superficial cervical lymph node enlargement. The aim of our study is to see the spectrum of lesions causing cervical lymphadenopathy in our region and the role of FNAC in its definite and early diagnosis. In these 6 years data of a total number of 1338 patients with cervical lymphadenopathy which were referred from the outpatient clinics for cytological examination were retrieved. FNAC was performed using 23 gauge needle attached to 20ml syringe. Aspirated materials were smeared into 2-3 slides which were stained with May Grunwald Giemsa (MGG) stain and using Dibutyl Phathalate Xylene (D.P.X) mountant, were prepared for cytological examination. Six year data was collected and compiled into various categories. Tubercular lymphadenitis (53.8%) was the commonest cause of lymphadenopathy followed by reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (27.8%), metastasis (14.6%) and lymphomas (3.6%). Squamous cell carcinoma (10.7%) followed by adenocarcinoma (3.9%) were the most frequent metastatic tumors. FNAC is a useful diagnostic tool and a valuable revolution in the management of patients presenting with cervical lymphadenopathy and should be considered before more invasive and costly procedures are performed, particularly in developing countries with resource poor settings.