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Updated: Jul 31, 2026
Collection, Isolation, and Flow Cytometric Analysis of Human Endocervical Samples
Published on: July 6, 2014
Clinicopathologic profile of significant cervical lymphadenopathy in children aged 1-12 years
Vamseedhar Annam1, Mohan H Kulkarni, Rekha B Puranik
1Department of Pathology, Sree Siddhartha Medical College, Tumkur, India. vamseedhar_a@yahoo.com
Insights
Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is crucial for diagnosing pediatric cervical lymphadenopathy. This method effectively identifies causes like tuberculosis and chronic infections, guiding appropriate treatment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pathology
- Diagnostic Cytology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Cervical lymphadenopathy is common in children.
- Accurate etiologic diagnosis is essential for effective management.
- Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) offers a minimally invasive approach.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of FNAC in diagnosing the causes of significant cervical lymphadenopathy in pediatric patients.
- To highlight the role of FNAC in the etiologic workup of pediatric cervical lymphadenopathy.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving 336 children (1 month to 12 years) with cervical lymphadenopathy.
- Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was performed on all eligible participants.
- Exclusion criteria included prior treatment or lymphadenopathy outside the cervical region.
Main Results:
- Of 324 evaluable cases, reactive lymphadenitis (58.02%) and granulomatous lymphadenitis (30.55%) were most common.
- Tuberculosis (29.01%) and chronic tonsillopharyngitis (28.39%) were the leading specific diagnoses.
- Malignancies were identified in 5.62% of cases.
Conclusions:
- FNAC is a valuable diagnostic tool for pediatric cervical lymphadenopathy.
- Its sensitivity and specificity approach that of excisional biopsy when performed correctly.
- FNAC aids in timely and accurate etiologic diagnosis, facilitating appropriate treatment strategies.
Objective:
To emphasize the role of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in etiologic workup in significant cervical lymphadenopathy in children.
Study Design:
A total of 336 consecutive children, aged 1 month to 12 years, with significant cervical lymphadenopathy were subjected to FNAC. Children on empirical/specific therapy for lymphadenopathy for >2 months and children with lymphadenopathy other than cervical region were excluded from this study.
Results:
Of 324 cases, the cytomorphologic features observed were reactive lymphadenitis in 58.02% of cases, granulomatous lymphadenitis in 30.55%, suppurative lymphadenitis in 7.10% and malignancies in 5.62%. The remaining 3. 57% of cases were excluded because of inadequate aspiration. The most common cause diagnosed was tuberculosis in 29.01% of cases followed by chronic tonsillopharyngitis in 28.39%, suppurative lymphadenitis in 7.10%, human immune deficiency infection in 5.55% and malignancies in
Conclusion:
FNAC is an important diagnostic modality for the etiologic workup in significant cervical lymphadenopathy in children. It is almost as sensitive and specific as excision lymph node biopsy when an adequate aspirate is examined by expert eyes.
