title: The analysis of pathological findings for cervical lymph node biopsies in eastern Saudi Arabia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lymphadenopathy is a common medical problem. A lymph node biopsy may be necessary for definitive diagnosis in selected cases.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group included a retrospective, hospital-based series of patients who had a cervical lymph node biopsy at the Saudi Aramco Medical Services organization between 1997 and 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, there were a total of 452 cervical lymph node biopsies. Biopsies were performed on 122 (27%) children ≤18 years and 81 (18%) patients >60 years. The most common histopathological diagnosis was reactive disease (52.2%, n=236), which was followed by granulomatous disease (15.5%, n=70). We detected carcinoma in 14.6% of the patients (n=66), Hodgkin's lymphoma in 8.8% (n=40) and non-Hodgkin's disease in 8.8% (n=40). Malignancy was more common in adults than children (19.5% vs. 1.6%, respectively and reactive disease was more common in children than adults (65.3% vs. 47.3%, respectively). Metastatic disease was more likely in the older age group (17.7% vs. 0%), Hodgkin's disease was found in 12.5% of the adolescents, and non-Hodgkin's disease was present in 10.3% of the adults and elderly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The most common histopathological findings for cervical lymph node biopsies in eastern Saudi Arabia were reactive disease and granulomatous disease.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine and Pathology Services Division, Saudi Aramco Medical Services Organization, Saudi Aramco, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. jaltawfi@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Jaffar A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Al-Tawfiq
authors.forename: Wasim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Raslan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult