Journal of Oncology Translational Research

Evaluation of significance of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) in the diagnosis of lymphadenopathy

Abstract

Aarya Unnikrishnan and Nandini N M

Lymphadenopathy is one of the most frequently encountered clinical presentations and the underlying cause may vary from inflammatory conditions to malignant
neoplasm. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a simple, reliable, economical and minimally invasive procedure preferred in diagnosis of lymphadenopathy.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of FNAC as a diagnostic tool in lymphadenopathy and correlate the FNAC findings with histopathological diagnosis
in cases possible. A retrospective study of 125 cases of lymphadenopathy that had undergone FNAC was conducted between January 2020 to December 2020
in the department of pathology, JSS Medical College, Mysore. Out of the 125 cases studied, Reactive lymphoid hyperplasia was the most common FNAC finding,
i.e., 60 (48%) followed by Metastatic carcinoma in 28 cases (22.4%), Granulomatous lymphadenitis in 25 (20%), Lymphoproliferative disorder in 5 (4%), Acute
suppurative lesion in 4 (3.2%), HIV lymphadenopathy in 2 (1.6%), and Non-specific lymphadenitis in 1 (0.8%) case.
FNAC is a simple, inexpensive, rapid and reliable diagnostic tool in the investigation of Lymphadenopathy. It helps in differentiating neoplastic from non-neoplastic
conditions and thus providing means for further management.