cilnical significance of ultrasound-guided lymph node biopsy and fine needle aspiration cytology [FNAC] in patients with abdominal lymphadenopathy

ABSTRACT

This study included 65 patients [32 males and 33 females] with enlarged abdominal lymph nodes [ALNs] detected by ultrasonography [US]. They underwent US-guided percutaneous ALN biopsy and fine needle aspiration cytology [FNAC] after initial clinical, laboratory, US and Doppler evaluation. Cases with very small [<1 cm] or highly vascular ALNs and those with bleeding tendency, marked obesity or tense ascites were excluded from the procedure. In all patients, both biopsy and FNAC were successful to obtain a sample without major complications. ALNs of different groups and locations were biopsied, the commonest were the para-aortic, coeliac and porta hepatic groups. A definite diagnosis was given by the percutaneous procedures in 58 cases. The diagnosis of other four cases was achieved by laparoscopic or surgical biopsies and the last three cases remained undiagnosed. It was concluded that US-guided biopsy and FNAC of ALNs are efficient methods in the diagnosis of both malignant and benign conditions. They require a perfect cytological and histopathological interpretation supplemented by the use of advanced histochemical techniques. The procedure is easy in experienced hands with no considerable complications