Surgical peripheral lymph node biopsies in Makurdi, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

This study aims at determining the diagnostic value of peripheral lymph node biopsy and com-mon causes of lymph node enlargement from biopsies obtained from patients with lymph-node enlargement at different sites in a teaching hospital in north central Nigeria town of Makurdi, Benue State. This is a retrospective study of surgical peripheral lymph node biopsies received in the department of Anatomic Pathology, Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, Ni-geria from February, 2012 to September, 2019. Total number of lymph node biopsies during the period was 47 representing 1.0% of surgical pathology specimens submitted to the department; 25 cases were females and 22 were males. Metastatic nodal involvement (57%), lymphoma (23%) and tuberculosis lymphadenitis (11%) were the most common causes of lymph node enlargement. All the studied nodes were localized. The most common sites of lymphadenopathy were axillary (21%), cervical (16%) and Inguinal (6%). While axillary lymph node enlargements were mostly associated with tumor metastasis, cervical and inguinal node enlargements were mostly associated with tuberculosis and lymphoma, respectively. Surgical excision of nodal en-largement for histological examination represents a simple, good diagnostic yield with lack of significant morbidity or mortality.