FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF SUPERFICIAL LYMPHADENOPATHY - AN ANALYSIS OF 2,418 CASES

During a period of 5 yr, 2,418 fine-needle aspirations (FNA) were perf ormed on 2,216 patients with superficial lymphadenopathy. Chronic nons pecific lymphadenitis was the commonest inflammatory lesion followed b y tuberculosis. Among malignant lesions, metastatic tumors were most c ommon followed by non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The FNAC findings were corre lated with subsequent histopathological diagnosis in 1,041 cases. The sensitivity rates of FNAC in tuberculosis, metastatic rumors, Hodgkin' s disease, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were found to be 83,3, 97, 30, a nd 80.3%, respectively, the specificity being 94.3, 98.9, 98.6, and 95 .4% in the same order. Immunocytochemical tests performed on the aspir ated material helped in classifying the metastatic poorly differentiat ed tumors and confirming the diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Eff ects of FNA on subsequent biopsy in 81 lymph nodes with benign hyperpl asia were studied and showed that aspiration does not interfere with s ubsequent histologic assessment. Thus FNAC is a simple, inexpensive pr ocedure, and when complemented by appropriate immunocytochemical studi es is accurate and reliable for routine diagnosis of lymphadenopathy. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.