title: Fine needle aspiration cytology as a preliminary diagnostic procedure for asymptomatic cervical lymphadenopathy.
abstract: Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was used as a preliminary diagnostic procedure in evaluating discrete, asymptomatic cervical lymphadenopathy of more than four weeks duration. Benign pathologies were encountered in 294/359 patients (82%); of these 86% had tuberculosis. Even in the elderly, a large number of patients (25/78) harboured tubercular lymph glands. FNAC obtained adequate material for cytologic diagnosis in 97.5% and had an overall accuracy rate of 97%. Malignancy was correctly diagnosed in 100%; in tuberculosis the accuracy rate of 96% with a 3.5% false negative results. FNAC is reliable as the initial evaluating procedure even in benign disorders; it is also cheap, speedy and easy to perform, with no complications, making it suitable for wider application in developing countries with scant resources.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Sarda
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bal
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kapur
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014388:Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / Q000473:pathology