FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY OF LYMPH NODES - IS IT A BOON?

Abstract

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a simple and rapid diagnostic procedure to identify etiology in an enlarged lymph node. We studied malignant lymph nodes .Most common site aspirated, age & sex distribution an Aim: d spectrum of diagnosis was presented in our result. We retrospectively reviewed malignant lymph node Methods: aspirates over a period of three years from June 2019 to May 2022 in Department of Pathology, Gajraraja Medical College, Gwalior, India .We excluded tubercular and reactive lymph nodes. A total of1026 lymph node aspirate Results: s were identified during this period. 198 cases (12.1%) were identified as malignant. Age distribution was 5 to 88 years. Male to female ratio was 5.8:1.In metastatic lymph nodes Cervical lymph nodes (174/201; 86.56%) were the main group.173 cases ( 86 %) showed metastatic deposits which was more common compared to 28 cases ( 13.9%) of primary lymphomas.Malignancies, included 143 cases (71.1%) of SCC (metastasis) and 22 cases (78.5%) of Non Hodgkins lymhoma. Cervical lymph node was the most common malignant lymph node aspirated. Squamous cell Conclusion: carcinoma and Non Hodgkins lymphoma were the most common primary and secondary malignancies. We can conclude FNAC as a one-step routine OPD procedure as mostly lymph nodes are easily accessible and can be reported within 5 days thus saving time and reducing discomfort of biopsy. Majority of benign etiologies can be triaged, thereby focusing more on malignant cases. FNAC thus proves to be a boon for diagnosing lymph node malignancies