TO STUDY THE CYTOMORPHOLOGICAL PATTERNS OF TUBERCULAR LYMPHADENOPATHY AND ITS HISTOPATHOLOGICAL CORRELATION

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Tubercular lymphadenopathy is one of the common clinical problems. Practically diagnosis of tuberculosis sometimes creates a challenge to the pathologist and clinician. A combined approach of cytology with aid of special stain and histopathological evaluation helps to conrm the diagnosis. AIM -The present study was carried out to evaluate the different cytological patterns of tuberculous lymphadenitis along with utility of special stain like Acid fast stain and further histopathological evaluation. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Smears from 833 cytologically diagnosed cases of tubercular lymphadenitis were prepared and stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E), Giemsa and Acid-fast stain. All the smears were categorized into four cytomorphological patterns and correlated with 250 histopathologically available cases. RESULT: Tuberculosis is the major cause of lymphadenopathy. Majority of cases (63 %) were in their second to third decades of life, with male to female ratio of 1:1.4. Cervical region was the most common site of involvement (83.5 %). Smear revealed epithelioid granulomas with caseous necrosis in maximum cases (46.9 %). AFB positivity was seen highest in smear revealing necrosis only with or without epithelioid cell (93,8 %). histopathological correlation was seen in 248 cases out of 250 available cases. CONCLUSION: FNAC has been proved very safe, highly sensitive, and rst line investigation in diagnosing tubercular lymphadenitis. The approach to tubercular lymphadenitis attains completeness with cytopathological, Acid Fast stain and histopathological evaluation.