Role of FNAC in Chronic Childhood Lymphadenopathy with Suspected Tuberculosis

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Tuberculous lymphadenitis is one of the common cause of Paediatric lymphadenopathy in India. This study was aimed to assess the usefulness of Fine needle aspiration cytology of lymph nodes as a diagnostic tool in suspected Tuberculosis and to observe the cyto morphological changes for better understanding of immune response. Material and methods: This was a cross sectional observational study conducted between the year 2016 to 2018 at Melmaruvathur tertiary care hospital. Children up to 14 years with suspected Tuberculosis symptoms and chronic lymphadenopathy irrespective of the sizes of nodes were subjected to Fine needle aspiration cytological study. Cyto smears morphology were observed and analysed. Results: A total of 81 cases were studied and the predominant age group affected were between five to ten years (n=46; 56.8%). 42 patients were female (51.9%) and 39 were male (48. 1%).Most of them had cervical nodes and 44% of nodes were less than 1 cm size. Out of 81 cases, 32 (39.5%) were diagnosed as nonspecific adenitis and 46 cases (56.8%) as granulomatous lymphadenitis. Among the size of the nodes, 57% of small nodes, 65% of medium sized nodes and 100% of large nodes showed granulomatous adenitis. Among sexes, female preponderance (63.1%) for granulomatous adenitis and male predominance (62.5%) for nonspecific adenitis were observed. Conclusion: Fine needle aspiration cytological study of paediatric lymphadenopathy is a useful diagnostic indicator in suspected Tuberculosis even for small size nodes and can be recommended if clinically warranted.