Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), a handy tool for metastatic lymphadenopathy

Aim: To establish the role of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) as a diagnostic tool in the interpretation of metastatic lymphadenopathyMaterial and Methods: The present study was conducted on 275 patients attending various clinics over a period of 2 Ω years. FNAC of the enlarged lymph nodes was performed and biopsy, special stains and immunohistochemical staining was done in selected cases.Observations: Metastatic lymphadenopathy was the commonest lesion in 221 (80.4%) cases. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common primary tumor metastasizing to lymph nodes. Cervical lymph nodes were the most commonly involved and the commonest primary site was head and neck. Cyto-histological correlation showed 97.9% diagnostic accuracy, 97.9% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Conclusion: FNAC is a rapid, safe, easy and non-expensive diagnostic technique which can be used for initial diagnosis of metastatic lymphadenopathy, in a resource challenged environment, confirm secondaries where primary tumor is evident, and for response to treatment.