Dermatopathic lymphadenopathy: a differential diagnosis of enlarged lymph nodes in uremic pruritus

Fine needle aspiration cytology for lymph nodes: a three-year study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The cytologic patterns of lymph node fine needle aspirations (FNAs) exhibit a wide variation in different diseases and in different ethnic groups in various geographical locations. Knowledge of lymphadenopathy patterns in a given geographical region is essential for making a confident diagnosis of suspected disease in that location. In the present study, we assessed the cytologic patterns of lymph node aspirations in patients in the Huangdao region of China.

METHODS

A three-year retrospective study design was conducted on FNA cytology samples from the lymph nodes of patients in our hospital between January 2011 and December 2014.

RESULTS

A total of 2136 lymph nodes were aspirated during the study period. Cytologic analysis of the lymph nodes revealed the following: malignancy, 53.6%; chronic non-specific lymphadenitis, 15.2%; reactive lymph node, 7.5%; pyogenic abscess, 2.9%; tuberculosis lymphadenitis, 8.7%; Hodgkin lymphoma, 4.8%; and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 7.16%. The 30-50 year age group was the most affected age group, while lymphadenopathy in the >60 year age group was less frequent. Cervical lymph nodes were the most frequent site for lymphadenopathy in women (31.4%, p < 0.001) and men (49.1%, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Lymphadenopathy is associated with a wide range of disorders; however, metastatic lymph nodes of malignancies are the most common cause for enlarged lymph nodes.