HISTOLOGICAL PATTERN OF LYMPHADENOPATHY IN THE NORTHERN FRONTIER OF SAUDI-ARABIA

Histological reports on 206 consecutive lymphnode biopsies obtained fr om patients presenting with lymph node enlargement in Arar Central Hos pital, Saudi Arabia, were reviewed. The mean age of the patients was 2 8.6 +/- SD 18.2 years with a male:female ratio of 1.2:1. Analysis of t he data indicated the following histopathological findings; reactive l ymph node hyperplasia (37.4%), tuberculosis (33.5%), neoplasm (25.3%) and acute lymph adenitis (3.9%). Cervical lymph nodes constituted the most common group (79%), and mediastinal lymph nodes (0.49%) the least common site. As compared to studies in Western countries, there was a relative preponderance of tuberculous lymphadenitis.