A clinico-pathological evaluation of chronic cervical lymphadenopathy

This observational study was conducted on prospectively collected 50 cases of chronic cervical lymphadenopathy from Department of General Surgery, Al-Ameen Medical College, Bijapur during the period of October 2003 to February 2006. All patients were evaluated through detailed history, general physical examination, systemic examination and relative examinations. Data was analyzed with SPSS ver 10.0. Age ranging from 2-50 years with average age being 26.7 years, tuberculous adenitis 62%, chronic non-specific adenitis 28%, lymphoma 6%, secondary carcinoma 4%. Male:Female ratio 1:1.08. 72% of the patients were from rural area. Presenting symptom in all cases was swelling in the neck. Fever and cough was present in 54% cases. History of exposure to tuberculosis was seen in only 12% of the cases. Unilateral lymphadenopathy was seen in 92% of the patients. Upper anterior deep cervical lymphadenopathy was present in 40% of the cases. Radiological evidence of active pulmonary tuberculosis was seen in only 4% of the cases. FNAC is conclusive in 96% of the cases. To conclude, tuberculosis was the commonest cause cervical lymphadenopathy in both sexes and in urban and rural areas and FNAC is highly conclusive but biopsy is need in few cases.