Clinicopathologic profile of significant cervical lymphadenopathy in children aged 1-12 years.

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.