Tuberculosis in Superficial Lymphadenopathy Based on Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology: A Cross Sectional Study

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of tuberculosis among individuals presenting with superficial lymphadenopathy using Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) as a diagnostic method. Methodology: This cross-sectional research spanned three years, conducted at HBS General Hospital in Islamabad from July 2016 to June 2019. The study enrolled individuals meeting specified inclusion and exclusion criteria, presenting with superficial lymph node enlargement. All participants provided written consent before undergoing fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), and the diagnosis of tuberculosis relied on histopathological findings. Results: Among 632 patients aged 15 to 60 years who underwent FNAC following clinical examination and relevant lab investigations, 85.4% (n=540) exhibited cervical lymphadenopathy. Among these, 57.7% (n=312) were diagnosed with tuberculous lymphadenitis, comprising 58.3% females (n=182) and 41.6% males (n=130). Axillary lymphadenopathy was observed in 5.53% (n=35) of patients, among whom 3.64% females (n=23) and 2.1% males (n=13) were diagnosed with tuberculous lymphadenopathy. Generalized lymphadenopathy was seen in 5.1% (n=32) of cases, with 0.94% males (n=6) and 0.79% (n=5) demonstrating histological evidence of TB on FNAC. Inguinal lymphadenopathy was observed in 3.95% (n=25) of patients, including 0.94% males (n=5) and 0.47% females (n=3). Conclusion: Lymphadenopathy, a prevalent clinical condition, encompasses various underlying causes, ranging from manageable tuberculosis to malignant conditions. FNAC serves as a safe and rapid diagnostic technique, reducing the need for excisional biopsies. In this study, cervical lymph nodes were most frequently affected by tuberculous lymphadenopathy, particularly among females.