A comparative study of fine needle aspiration cytology and histopathology in the diagnosis of peripheral lymphadenopathy

Abstract

Introduction: Lymphadenopathy is a common clinical problem in our country among all age groups and in both sexes. Lymphadenopathy is a feature of many diseases presented to different categories of clinicians in everyday practice. Tuberculous lymphadenitis is the most common cause of peripheral lymphadenopathy in a developing country. Aims & Objective: In this study an attempt has been made to evaluate the clinical presentation and diagnosis of lymphadenopathy through fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and its correlation with histopathologlcal examination (HPE). Methodology: This hospital-based retrospective study was done in 60 cases of clinically apparent lymphadenopathy over a period of 2.5 years from January, 2021 to June, 2023. The results of FNAC and histopathologilcal examination (HPE) of the same lesion were compared and the diagnostic accuracy was estimated. Results: Cytopathological study was successful in correctly identifying 85.2% of Tuberculous lymphadenitis, 66.6% of chronic non-specific lymphadenitis, 100% of necrotizing lymphadenitis, 88.9% of reactive lymphadenitis, 100% of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, 50% of Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Statistical correlation between aetiology of lymphadenopathy and cytopathological diagnosis with Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient revealed a strong positive statistically significant correlation of cytopathology with histopathology. Conclusion: FNAC is simple, safe, reliable, and inexpensive method that could be employed in detection of inflammatory, reactive and neoplastic conditions leading to clinical lymphadenopathy.