Objective: Cytological examination of Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) smears can determine whether lymphadenopathy is due to reactive hyperplasia, infection, metastatic malignancy or malignant lymphoma. FNAC a simple, and reliable technique can be used as a routine OPD procedure for establishing etiology of cervical lymphadenopathy. In this study we describe cytomorphological patterns of FNAC of cervical lymph nodes and it's utility in establishing diagnosis. Methods: This study was carried study was out at Rural Government Medical College and Hospital on 510 clinically diagnosed cases of cervical lymphadenopathy over a period of two and half years. FNAC was carried out in all these patients. Biopsy and special stains were done in selected cases. Patients included in the present study were in the age group of 3 months to 80 years with male: female ratio of 1.2: 1. Results: 127/510 (24.90%) cases were of tubercular lymphadenitis, 102/510 (20%) cases show Metastatic tumours, 118/510 (23.13%) hyperplasic lymph nodes, 55/510 (10.78%) acute lymphadenitis, 56/510(10.98%) chronic granulomatous lymphadenitis and 11/510 (0.22%) Lymphoma. Tubercular lymphadenopathy was seen more commonly in third and fourth decades together comprising of 70/127 (55.12%) cases. 86/102 (84.31%) cases of metastatic tumours were in the age group of 31- 60 yrs. Highest incidence of metastatic malignancy was seen in the seventh decade (38.23%). Conclusions: The most frequent causes of cervical lymphadenopathy are reactive lymphadenitis, metastatic malignancies and tuberculosis. FNAC alone can help in establishing the diagnosis in large number of cases. It is a highly effective diagnostic procedure in the pre operative evaluation and management of cervical lymph node masses.
