European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Objective
Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is first line of investigation in diagnosing a variety of superficial and deep lesions. It is a easy, quick, cost effective,well tolerated  and reliable technique done  as a  outpatient department  procedure. Lymphadenopathy is clinically important in a myriad of conditions ranging from simple reactive lymphadenitis to neoplastic etiology. In this study, we explain the  utility of FNAC in  lymph node lesions ranging from infectious etiology to malignant lesions and we highlight Tuberculous Lymphadenitis.
Methods: This was a retrospective study and includes a total of  256patients of  all age groups and both sexes presenting with palpable lymphnodes at FNAC clinic of our institute over a period of 3 years .FNAC was conducted with 22-24 Gauge disposable needles attached to  5/10c.c syringes. Smears were fixed in 95% ethyl alcohol and stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin stain. Leishman stain was done on air dried smears. Ziehl- Neelsen (ZN) staining was done wherever required.
Results: Out of a total of 256 patients with   lymphadenopathy subjected to FNAC the commonest site was cervical lymphnodes(57.03%) .Females(54.68%)
 outnumbered males(45.31%) in our study .The commonest lesion  was found to be Granulomatous lymphadenitis(51.95%,followed by reactive
lymphadenitis(23.82%),non suppurative lymphadenitis(10.1%),acute suppurative lymphadenitis(6.25%),Metastatic deposit(5.07%),chronic suppurative lymphadenitis(1.95%) and HodgkinsLympoma(0.78%).
Conclusion: FNAC is a easy to perform,reliable in expensive method in diagnosing lymphadenopathy.In our study the predominant cause of lymphadenopathy was Tuberculous lymphadenitis,followed by reactive lymphadenitis.