Cytological evaluation of enlarged peripheral lymph nodes: An institutional experience from kumaon region of Uttarakhand

Introduction: Peripheral lymphadenopathy is a common clinical entity. It is significant as the underlying cause could range from a simple infection to a malignant lesion which could be either primary or metastatic. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is the first line of investigation usually done to diagnose enlarged lymph nodes. Materials and Methods: This retroprospective study was done in the Department of Pathology, Government Medical College, Haldwani, from January 2008 to December 2018. Relevant details of the patients were taken from the records. The cytological diagnosis and site were noted and divided into major diagnostic categories with respect to age group, sex, and site. Results: A total of 16,985 cases were studied. About 42% showed reactive morphology, 31.77% were tubercular, 23.65% metastatic lesions, 2.49% were hematological malignancies, and only 0.08% were parasitic. The cervical lymph node was the most common site aspirated and it was also the most common site for metastasis (60.45%). Among the metastatic lesions, squamous cell carcinoma accounted for maximum cases (69.10%). Conclusion: FNAC is a simple procedure for investigating enlarged peripheral lymph nodes. The underlying cause may vary depending on the sociodemographic profile of the patients. It is a safe and effective procedure for giving a quick and reliable diagnosis in peripheral lymphadenopathy, thereby avoiding unnecessary excision biopsy.