title: Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the diagnosis of granulomatous lymphadenitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the final histological and clinical diagnosis of patients with granulomatous lymphadenitis on fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort study was carried out over a five year period in a tertiary referral hospital. FNAC of 22 patients with granulomatous lymphadenitis was reviewed and correlated with the final histological diagnosis and clinical outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen cases (64%) underwent surgical biopsy for histological assessment. A definitive diagnosis on FNAC with ancillary investigations was achieved in 82% (18 out of 22) of the cases: four Hodgkin's lymphoma, two non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), five tuberculosis (TB), two toxoplasmosis, one sarcoidosis and four benign reactive changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant number of cases of FNAC diagnosed granulomatous lymphadenitis have an identifiable underlying cause. Patients with reactive cytological changes, who clinically appear benign, can avoid unnecessary surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Belfast City Hospital Trust, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Lioe
authors.forename: R A J
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Spence
mesh_terms: D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008199:Lymphadenitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D014388:Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / Q000175:diagnosis