A Future Investigation on Clinicopathological Approaches of Neck Lymphadenopathy by Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology
Authors: Aziz Laila 
Published: February 2025

Background: Peripheral lymphoid glands located throughout the neck are cervical lymph nodes. Nodes are irregular in scale, quality or numbers and palpable are referred to by the name lymphadenopathy. Neck lymphadenopathy diagnosis can range beyond neoplasm to different types of disease. Exact identification of the origin of lymphadenopathy is capable of also be complicated and can direct to identification complications that origin inadequate care and associated health concerns. Neck lymphadenopathy is a typical clinical appearance in many clinical procedures.

Materials and Methods: In order to illustrate the function of fine needle aspiration cytology in etiological workup in neck lymphadenopathy, this research was done to explain the connexion between clinical presentations of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology. A prospective observational investigation was carried out over a period of one and half years on 80 patients of cervical lymphadenopathy who presented in the surgical outpatient department of Madras Medical College. Detailed history, physical examination and necessary investigations including Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology were workout in all patients. Most patient’s age was between 35 to 55 Years old.

Results: Results have shown in the present research that tuberculous lymphadenopathy is the most prevalent source of cervical lymphadenopathy with 59%, accompanied by persistent non-specific lymphadenopathy with 26. Of the 29 patients with granulomatous modifications in fine needle aspiration cytology, 49 had subsequent surgery and histological evidence of cytological presentation 25 reported Tuberculous Lymphadenopathy, so the sensitivity of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology in diagnosing granulomatous lymphadenopathy relevant to tuberculosis was 85%. Non-specificity was documented histologically by one false positive Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology. There was swelling of the cervical lymph node during the latest investigation. Fever (29%), weight loss and appetite loss (18%), cold abscesses (7%), axillary and inguinal swelling (5%), discomfort (7%), sinus discharge, sore throat, old sinus scars, cough, teeth decay (3%) were other typical presenting symptoms. In 69% of cases, only unilateral node involvement was affected in 28 % of cases, while in 39 % of cases, bilateral involvement was affected in 12% of cases. In 11% of the instances, the lymph nodes were correlated with other lymph node classes.

Conclusion: In our investigation, the sensitivity and specificity of tuberculous cervical lymphadenopathy Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology are 81 and 96 respectively. The findings concluded that tuberculosis, accompanied by reactive lymphadenitis and metastatic deposits, was the common prevalent cause of cervical lymphadenopathy in the Indian community. Reactive lymphadenitis in multiple age groups, contagious in 35-55 years, is the most frequent cause of enlargement of the cervical lymph node. The age range involves tuberculosis and suppurative lymphadenitis, neoplastic lesions like metastatic cancer and nonhodgkin's lymphomas among more than 55 age levels. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology is an essential diagnostic modality in severe cervical lymphadenopathy for the etiological workup and is just as responsive and precise as biopsy of the excision lymph node when expert eyes inspect an acceptable aspirate. The most prominent cause of neck lymphadenopathy is Reactive Lymphadenopathy. However, with non-neoplastic to neoplastic disorders, variable diagnosis can be possible.