title: [Diagnosis of lymphadenopathy in children: role of fine needle aspiration biopsy].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lymphadenopathy in children can be a challenging clinical situation that requires a careful approach.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report the experience with fine needle aspiration biopsy for the diagnosis of lymphadenopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of 95 pediatric patients, aged 3 months to 19 years old, referred by primary care physicians for the study of lymphadenopathy. All were subjected to a complete medical examination, laboratory tests and fine needle aspiration biopsy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy seven per cent of enlarged lymph nodes were located in the neck. Fine needle aspiration showed a hyperplastic adenitis in 44 patients (46%). In 13 patients, an infectious adenitis, sometimes suppurated was observed. In 9 patients a BCG or tuberculous adenitis with caseum was found. In 13 patients, cytology disclosed a non lymphatic mass, in four patients a Hodgkin disease and in one, malignant cells of unknown origin. Four patients had a normal lymph node and in 2 the sample was insufficient for cytological analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fine needle aspiration biopsy is a simple and safe diagnostic method for lymphadenopathy in children.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital Luis Calvo Mackenna, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ríos
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Otoya
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008199:Lymphadenitis / Q000473:pathology; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000473:pathology*
vernacular_title: Diagnóstico de adenopatías en niños: rol de la punción con aguja fina.