Fine needle aspiration biopsy cytology of superficial lymph nodes: comparative with histopathology

Fine needle aspiration biopsy cytology was done in 215 lymph nodes involving cervical, submandibular, supraclavicular, axillary and inguinal regions. One hundred and forty of these were diagnosed by histopathology after excisional biopsy or surgery, including 46 cases of metastatic tumor, 57 of lymphoma (46 were non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and 11 were Hodgkin's disease), and 37 of benign lymphadenopathy. Diagnosis of metastatic malignancy was easily made by aspiration biopsy cytology with a total sensitivity of 95.7% (44/46). The diagnosis of lymphoma was less satisfactory with a total sensitivity of 82.5% (47/57). The specificity for diagnosis of benign lymphadenopathy was 97.3% (36/37) with one false positive. The concordance of cell type in aspiration biopsy cytology and histopathology was 75% (33/44) in metastatic malignancy, and 73.5% (28/38) in lymphoma. Typical Reed-Sternberg giant cells were detected in 4 of 11 cases of Hodgkin's disease by aspiration cytology. Out of the 37 cases of benign lymphadenopathy diagnosed by aspiration cytology, 7 were cases of tuberculous lymphadenitis, of which typical Langhans' giant cells were found in 2, and acid fast stain bacilli in 3 cases. There was no complication or needle tract spreading throughout the procedure. We concluded that aspiration biopsy cytology is a simple, safe, reliable, and quick diagnostic method.