DIAGNOSTIC EFFICACY OF FNAC AND HISTOPATHOLOGY IN PATIENTS OF CERVICAL LYMPHADENOPATHY IN ADULTS.

Abstract

ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The diagnosis of lymphadenopathies has remained challenging for healthcare
takers. OBJECTIVE: Multiple methods are applied to diagnose it. Initially, Fine Needle
Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is done to see the type of cells either benign or malignant. It is the
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st step towards the diagnosis. It is easily available, simple and cost effective. It is OPD procedure.
Patients suffer minimal trauma. For histopathology, excisional biopsy is done through surgical
procedures. After getting diagnosis by FNAC, the need of excisional biopsy is less. FNAC has
accurate diagnosis in cases of tuberculosis lymphadenitis, infections, reactive hyperplasia and
neoplastic lesions. METHODS: This is a cross sectional study done in Surgical Unit II at PMC
Hospital Nawabshah 15th Feb 2019 to 15th Feb 2021. All the patients were admitted through OPD
and emergency department of PMC Hospital Nawabshah. All patients came with complain of neck
swellings in cervical regions. Clinical History was taken. Local examination of swellings was
done. All routine biochemical investigations were done. In some patients, ESR was also done.
Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) was obtained on slides. Results were collected either
benign or malignant. Those cases in which FNAC proved to be inconclusive, they were sent for
excisional biopsy and then for histopathology. RESULTS: Total 80 patients were selected for the
study. Females were 58 (72%) and males were 22 (28%). Among benign conditions, reactive
hyperplasia was found to be in 30 (45%) patients, necrotizing lymphadenitis in 10 (15%) and
granulomatous lymphadenitis in 22 (33%) patients. 5 (7%) cases were negative in benign
conditions. Of malignant conditions, the results of FNAC were not satisfactory so the excisional
biopsy of all malignant conditions were done and lymphomas were diagnosed on Histopathology.
6 (8.9%) was Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) and 7 (12.5%) Non Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL).
CONCLUSION: It is concluded that FNAC has the great accuracy in diagnosis of benign
conditions whereas in cases of Lymphomas, the diagnostic accuracy of Histopathology supersedes
it.