Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology in Metastatic Lymph Nodes: A Study from Bihar

Abstract

Background: In a country like India which has got rersource constraints, Fine needle aspiration cytology is a less time consuming, reliable, suitable for moribund patients as well as an inexpensive diagnostic method. It is suitable for the developing countries like India and state like Bihar for the diagnosis of lymphadenopathy at any approachable site. Fine needle aspiration cytology not only gives first hand idea about the cause of lymphadenopathy but also confirms the presence of metastatic disease. In most cases, it gives the clue regarding the origin of the primary tumor. The aim of the study was to find out the cytological diagnosis of metastatic lymph node lesions. Methods: A combined prospective and retrospective study was done of all metastatic lymph node lesions (including both superficial and deep nodes) reported cases of fine needle aspiration cytology were taken for study in which 540 cases were of lymph node. Cytology results were unsatisfactory in 30 specimens (5.55%), "reactive" or "infective" in 120 specimens (22.22%), positive for metastasis in 374 specimens (69.23%) and hematolymphoid malignancies include 16 cases (3%). The most common site was anterior and posterior triangles cervical nodes. The most common malignancy was adenocarcinoma, seen in 164 cases (44%), followed by metastatic squamous cells carcinoma (108 cases, 29 %). Conclusion: Fine needle aspiration cytology of lymphadenoathy is a useful tool in diagnosing metastatic lesions with good certainty.

Role of FNAC in the diagnosis of lymph node malignancies - An institutional experience

“…8 FNAC has become a well-established method for the diagnosis of metastatic malignancies in the lymph node. 9,10 The present study included 97 malignant lymph node aspirates. There was male predominance (64, 66%) in our study with male to female ratio of 1.94:1.…”