Spectrum of pathologies on FNAC evaluation of peripheral lymph nodes at a tertiary care center in hyderabad: a retrospective study

Abstract

Background: The aim of the study was to study the pattern of pathologies identified on FNA of superficial lymph nodes in a tertiary hospital in Hyderabad during the period January 2014 to August 2016, as well as to identify the profile of patients undergoing the procedure at our Hospital.Methods: The data pertaining to the details of the patients who underwent FNA evaluation of superficial lymph nodes from the period January 2014 to 31 August 2016 at a tertiary hospital located in Hyderabad, Telangana, was analysed to determine the age and sex distribution of the patients and the distribution of pathologies diagnosed on FNA evaluation of the lymph nodes.Results: The female gender was predominant (61%; 156 out of 253 patients) among the patients who underwent FNA evaluation of lymph nodes. A majority of the patients were in the age group of 20 to 50 years. Reactive lymph node hyperplasia was the predominant diagnosis in our series (49.8 %; 126 cases out of 253 FNA evaluations). Granulomatous lymphadenitis was the second most common diagnosis (37.15%; 94 out of 253 FNA evaluations).Conclusions: Fine Needle Aspiration evaluation is a quick, easy, relatively non - traumatic, and, in expert hands, a reliable method of diagnosing the pathology underlying enlarged superficial lymph nodes. Reactive lymph node hyperplasia and granulomatous lymphadenitis were the two most common causes of lymph node enlargement in our series.