Suhail Farooq1, Kuldeep Singh2, Jibran Amin3
BACKGROUND
Fine needle aspiration cytology is a simple, easy and safe procedure. It has been used for the diagnosis of superficial palpable lesions successfully. Deep-seated lesions have also been sampled by fine needle aspiration cytology with the imaging techniques with considerable success. FNAC is a simple, easy and reliable technique for the initial diagnostic evaluation of enlarged lymph nodes.
The aim of the study conducted was to compare the two techniques- FNAC and FNNAC for diagnostic adequacy in superficial enlarged lymph nodes.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The study was conducted in 100 patients with superficial enlarged lymph nodes using both the techniques- FNAC and FNNAC. Relevant history and clinical examination were taken. The two techniques were compared for the diagnostic adequacy based on five parameters using Mair et al scoring system.
RESULTS
In the present study, the cumulative score for FNNAC was more in comparison to that of FNAC (6.82 >6.57). For individual parameters, the average score for parameters like background blood (1.47 >1.41), degree of cellular degeneration (1.37 >1.31), trauma (1.35 >1.26) and retention of architecture (1.25 >1.16) were better in case of FNNAC in comparison to FNAC. However, average score for amount of cellular material was more (1.44 >1.38) in case of FNAC than FNNAC. All these differences observed among various parameters were, however, statistically nonsignificant with P-values of 0.417, 0.425, 0.319, 0.200, 0.160 and 0.1179.
CONCLUSION
Both FNAC and FNNAC yield good material for diagnostic of evaluation of superficial enlarged lymph nodes. FNNAC provided superior quality smears for the interpretation and diagnosis of superficial enlarged lymph nodes. FNNAC is a good technique that needs to be utilised in the routine cytology practice for sampling of superficial enlarged lymph nodes.
