Abstract
UTILITY OF FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY IN LYMPH NODE LESIONS WITH HISTOPATHOLOGICAL CORRELATION

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is a simple and rapid diagnostic technique. Because of early availability of results, simplicity, minimal trauma and complications, the aspiration cytology is now considered a valuable diagnostic aid and is part and parcel of a pathologist’s repertoire. The present study is undertaken to evaluate the reliability of FNAC technique in different age groups sex and sites and to correlate with the histopathological diagnosis. The present study on 120 patients of lymphadenopathy was conducted during the period from March 2006 to December 2007 in the department of pathology, Mamata Medical College. In the present study, the peak incidence of 47 cases was seen in the age group below 20 years and the nodal site sampled most frequently was cervical group in 70 cases (58.3%), followed by axillary groups in 8 cases (6.6%), inguinal 12 (10%), and submandibular and others were 30 (25%) respectively. Metastatic Lesions (15 cases) were all diagnosed cytologically even the primary site was also diagnosed accurately which was confirmed by histological diagnosis. All of them were confirmed histologically with 100% accuracy. To conclude, FNAC study of lymphnodal masses is a reliable diagnostic tool and is almost equal to that of biopsy.