CYTOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF NECK LYMPH NODES FOR METASTATIC DISEASE

Abstract

Background: Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a simple, rapid and cost effective procedure with minimal complications for evaluating enlarged neck nodes, but also gives clue. Neck lymph nodes are a common site of metastasis for various carcinomas, usually from the upper aerodigestive tract and salivary gland or carcinoma of unknown primary. Objectives: To study different cytomorphological patterns of metastatic neck nodes. To evaluate the diagnostic utility of FNAC in diagnosis of metastatic lesions of lymph node. Methods: It is a one year prospective study comprised of all aspirates 139 lymphnodes of 968 patients. FNACs conducted in the Department of Pathology, Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangalore, between January 2019 to December 2019. A total of 70 out of 139 peripheral neck nodes in patients diagnosed with metastatic neck lymph node on FNAC were included in the study. Results: Out of 70 cases included in our study, metastasis to the neck lymph nodes were most common in the age group 51 to 60 years (38.6%) followed by 61 to 70 years (28.6%). Male preponderance was noted with male to female ratio of 1.7:1. On cytological examination, squamous cell carcinoma was found to be the most common tumor metastasizing to the neck nodes, accounting for 37 (52.9%) cases followed by each 10 (14.3%) cases each of undifferentiated carcinoma and thyroid carcinoma, 9 (12.9%) cases of adenocarcinoma, 3 (4.3%) cases of parotid gland carcinoma and 1 (1.4%) case of germ cell tumor of testis. Conclusion: FNAC is an early and reliable tool for the diagnosis of metastatic neck nodes. Any enlarged neck node should be investigated to rule out metastasis.