PATTERN OF LYMPHADENITIS AS DETECTED BY FNAC IN A HOSPITAL BASED STUDY ON THE WEST LUCKNOW POPULATION.

Background: Chronic non specific lymphadenitis and reactive lymphadenitis are two problems on rise in the current Indian population, both in adult as well as pediatric age group. The biggest problem being faced by the cytologists in the diagnosis of such disorders due to widespread chronicity of the diseases affecting the lympnode as well as loss of patient compliance where early detection investigation and treatment of the disease is concerned. The incomplete or over enthusiastic antibiotic therapy which leads to incomplete resolution of the disease also adds to the confusion. The present study aimed at delineating the different types of lymph node lesions diagnosed by FNAC and the frequency of different benign and malignant lesions diagnosed. Material and methods: We reviewed 213 cases of lymphadenopathy from May 2014 to June 2015. The cytomorphological features seen in the aspirate were critically analysed and correlated with their aetiology. Results: In our study of 213 cases of lymphadenopathy analyzed in retrospect, the age groups ranged from 3-65 yrs, with 73% cases being of adults. There was a slight male preponderance with 56 % of the samples being from males. The first most common cause of lymphadenopathy visiting our hospital came out to be granulomatous lesions[41.7%], caseating [65.2%] more that non caseating granulomas[34.8%].Second most common cause was chronic non-specific lymphadenitis [32.4%], while the third group being reactive lymphadenitis-a cause that does not warrant treatment was approximately,23.9% of the total cases. Metastatic causes accounted for only 3 cases [1.5%] in our study-number being too small to draw any conclusion regarding their incidence. The filarial lymphadenitis was just 0.5% of the total diagnosis[1 case]. The most common site for FNAC was the cervical region, 165 out of 213 cases. The most common lesion occurring in the older age group is the 20-40 years while the reactive lesions had a more common predilection for patients less than 20 years of age. Conclusions: Tuberculosis is still the dominant infection in the rural population specially in the adult age group while the paediatric age group presented with mainly chronic non specific pathology hence tuberculosis needs a vigilant detection, management and treatment protocol.