ABSTRACT
Background: Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is simple, quick, inexpensive and minimally invasive OPD technique used to diagnose different types of swellings located in the neck. Aims & Objective: (1) To assess the distribution of various cytomorphological patterns of cervical lymphadenopathy; (2) To assess the age specific distribution of various cytomorphological patterns of cervical lymphadenopathy. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out at GMERS Medical College and Hospital, Valsad, on 196 clinically diagnosed cases of cervical lymphadenopathy over a period of two years from January 2010 to December 2011.FNAC was carried out in all these patients. Fine Needle Aspiration Diagnosis was correlated with details of relevant clinical findings and investigation. Results: Total 196 cases were studied, out of these 173 (88.26%) were found inflammatory and 23 (11.73%) were neoplastic. Tuberculosis was the most common disease found in 109 (55.61%) patient followed by chronic nonspecific lymphadenitis 49 (25.00%), Metastatic tumours 21 (10.71%), acute lymphadenitis 15 (7.65%), Lymphoma 2 (1.02%). Highest incidence of cervical lymphadenopathy was found inpatients of 11 to 30 years age group. Conclusion: Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology is easy, simple, safe, reliable and non-invasive procedure for diagnosis of cervical lymphadenopathy and easy way for surgeon to decide whether to go for surgery or not.