Volume : 9, Issue : 4, April - 2020

DIAGNOSIS OF PERSISTANT PERIPHERAL LYMPHADENOPATHY BY FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY

Dr. Pradip Butale, Dr. Balawant Kove

Abstract :

Aim and Objectives: The present research was carried out to study the prevalence and cytological features of peripheral persistent lymphadenopathy and also correlate cytological findings with its histopathological diagnosis. Method: In this study, total 2022 aspirates of persistent peripheral lymphadenopathy were studied from 2016 patients. Detailed clinical examination, aspiration biopsy cytology and histopathology in the available cases were done to reach the definite diagnosis. Results: Out of total 2022 aspirates, 67 (3.31%) aspirates were inadequate for cytological interpretation while 97 (4.80%) aspirations were inconclusive though adequate. Cases in which aspirates were showing reactive change formed a large group 520 (25.73%) and in this group sensitivity and specificity was 94.4% and 100% respectively. Inflammatory lesions of lymph nodes were most common and tuberculosis alone constituted 764 (37.78%) cases. In only 14 (0.69%) cases leukemic infiltration was seen, out of which only 2 cases were available for histopathological study that confirmed the cytological diagnosis. 54 cases of lymphoreticular malignancy were diagnosed, out of which 42 were non-Hodgkins’ lymphoma and remaining 12 were Hodgkins’ disease. Metastatic deposits in the lymph nodes were seen in 492 (24.33%) cases, out of these, maximum numbers of cases were of squamous cell carcinoma. Conclusion: Aspiration cytology is very much useful, easy, economical and time saving procedure in diagnosing many conditions responsible for the lymphadenopathy but limitations of aspiration biopsy should always be kept in mind. It is not a substitute for histopathology but a supplementary procedure for it.