Role of fine needle aspiration cytology in children with peripheral lymphadenopathy

ABSTRACT

To see the accuracy and role of fine needle aspiration cytology in children with peripheral lym-phadenopathy in our setup. Descriptive study. Department of Pathology Peoples Medical College Nawabshah. January 2002 to December 2004. A total number of 158 children were included in the study having age upto 12 years with history of peripheral lymphadenopathy. Fine needle aspiration cytology was performed with 22 gauge needle attached with 10 ml syringe and without using any local anesthetic. Confirmation of the diagnosis by subsequent surgical biopsy or by a clinical follow up period for at least six months was mandatory. 179 aspirates were obtained from 158 patients. The cytological diagnosis were; 78 [43.6%] reactive, 43 [24.0%] tuberculous lymphadenitis, 27 [15.1%]suppurative inflammation, 15 [8.3%] non Hodgkin's lymphoma, 05 [2.8%] Hodgkin's lymphoma, 03 [1.7%] leukemic infiltration, 02 [1.1%] cytological diagnosis uncertain, 06 [3.4%] material inadequate. 06 cytological diagnosis were false negative and one was false positive. The overall accuracy was 96%. Fine needle aspiration cytology is an initial important diagnostic tool in children having peripheral lymphadenopathy, especially in those rural areas where the surgical facilities are not available. It is a safe, rapid simple and accurate with low morbidity -and only the doubtful cases may go for surgical biopsy