CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS AND ASSOCIATION OF FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION WITH THE DIFFERENT LYMPH NODE LESIONS IN RURAL SINDH.

J Peop Univ Med Health Sci. 2025:15(3), 10-17. http://doi.org/10.46536/jpumhs/2025/15.03.652

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Using Fine needle aspiration cytology FNAC as a mode of investigation is helpful
in knowing the common patterns of lymphadenopathies which assist in diagnosing the clinical
pathology where there is a dilemma in reaching the final diagnosis. FNAC is effectively used for both
superficial and deep soft tissue masses and the most commonly targeted sites are the lymph nodes,
breast, thyroid, salivary glands, and skin thus eliminating the need for unnecessary surgical
interventions such as open biopsies. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to observe the most
common diagnosis for FNAC in patients presenting with lymph node swellings in the outpatient
department in patients of both genders and all age groups. METHODOLOGY: In this cross-sectional
study, 297 patients were recruited from the rural areas of Sindh. All the samples were collected from
“The Laboratory” from “February 2019” to “December 2019” after taking informed consent. The
sampling method in this study was non-probability consecutive sampling. FNAC was performed in
each patient after observing all aseptic measures, slides were prepared and evaluated by a panel of
histopathologists. Quantitative data was represented by Mean and Standard Deviation while the
qualitative data was represented by frequency and percentages. The chi-square test was used to
determine the association of different clinical variables with the diagnosis. RESULTS: 297 patients,
113 (38%) were males and (184) 62% were females. The subjects' ages ranged from 1 -75 years and
were divided into 3 respective groups, (0-19 years, 20-39 years, and ≥40 years). The majority of the
patients (128, 43.1%) fell in the 0-19 age group, followed by 124 (41.8%) patients in the 20-39 age
group and only 45 individuals (15.2) were ≥40 years of age. The most common site of lymph node
involvement was observed to be the cervical group with a total of 227 cases, of which 135 (45.5%)
affected the right cervical group and 92 (31%) affected the left cervical group. This was followed by
the right axillary group with 12 cases (4%) and the sub-mental group with 10 cases (3.4%). A sum of
192 cases was diagnosed with granulomatous inflammation by the histological findings, out of which
161 (54.2%) cases were Tuberculous/Chronic Specific Lymphadenitis and the remaining 31 (10.4%)
were of tuberculous abscess. The next common lesion observed was Chronic non-specific
lymphadenitis with 87 cases (29.3%). 12 cases (4%) were Suspicious of Malignancy. A significant
association was observed between the cause of lymphadenopathy and the age of the patient (p value=
0.002), the site of the lymph node (0.002). CONCLUSION: In the current survey female of younger
age groups were more frequently presented with right cervical lymphadenophies having chronic non-
specific lymphadenitis. Age and site of the lymph node involved had an association with the diagnosis
of FNAC.