Study of incidence of tuberculosis in fine needle aspiration cytology of cervical lymph node: a city based study

Background: Tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis is commonly encountered in clinical practice. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) being a simple out-patient diagnostic procedure is well accepted by patients and has practically no complications. Methods: The present study involved 80 patients of cervical lymphadenopathy, who attended the pathology department of the L N medical college and JK hospital, Bhopal from June 2013 to May 2014. After a detailed history and clinical examination, fine needle aspiration cytology of involved nodes was performed in all these patients. Results: Out of 80 cases 32 (40%) cases were of tubercular lymphadenitis, 24 (30%) cases were of reactive hyperplasia of lymph node, 12 (15%) cases were of metastatic deposit of squamous cell carcinoma of lymph node, 10 (12.5)cases were of non-specific lymphadenitis, one case (1.25) was of acute on chronic lymphadenitis and one (1.25) case was of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, so out of 80 cases maximum number of cases (32) were of tuberculous lymph node. Conclusion: FNAC has emerged as a first-line diagnostic technique in tuberculosis lymph node. In cervical lymphadenopathy tuberculosis remains a common cause.