Spectrum of diseases presenting with lymphadenopathy in elderly: Fine needle aspiration cytology of 60 cases

Introduction: Lymphadenopathy is one of the common clinical presentations in patients of all age group. Lymphadenopathy can be due to reactive or infective cause, but malignancy including metastastic deposits in are not uncommon in elderly. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a useful diagnostic rapider in many mass lesions like lymphadenopathy. Aims and Objectives: Three years study was conducted to know the spectrum of diseases causing enlargement of lymph nodes in elderly patients with age 60 years and above. Materials and Methods: We have collected all the clinical data from the registers from June 2014 to June 2017 in Medical records section, KIMS, Koppal and reviewed FNAC slides of lymph node aspirates of elderly. Results: A total of 60 elderly patients of age 60 years and above with lymphadenopathy were included in this study. Cervical group of lymph nodes were the predominant site for lymphadenopathy. The commonest cause of lymphadenopathy was reactive, seen in 29 patients, followed by 23 patients with metastatic deposits and squamous cell differentiation was commonest type. Tubercular and suppurative lymphadenitis were observed in four cases each. CBNNAT is an useful diagnostic modality in microbiological confirmation of tuberculosis. Males showed preponderance of reactive as well as in metastatic lymphadenopathy. Conclusion: Though reactive lymphadenitis is the commonest cause for enlargement of lymph nodes but metastatic deposits are not uncommon in elderly. FNAC as a diagnostic rapider useful screening tool for all elderly patients presenting with lymphadenopathy.