Role of FNAC to Diagnose Cervical Tuberculosis

Cervical Lymph Nodes (LN) are the second most common primary site of Tubercular infection after Lungs. For the diagnosis of Cervical Lymph-adenitis, clinicians often face challenges, since they have no easily accessible tools like X ray and Sputum exam. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) offers an easy, effective and affordable option; this study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of FNAC to diagnose the infection of Tuberculosis in cervical LN.

The study involved 520 patients of cervical lymph-adenitis of all age group. FNAC of their enlarged Lymph Nodes were performed by 20 Gauge needle and 20 Millilitres syringe. After the result, the patients with Positive reports for TB were observed while taking ATT. And the patients with a Negative report were followed up for the progression of LN and the FNAC was repeated each month.

Out of total 520 patients 443 were diagnosed Tubercular, 68 had reactive hyperplasia, 04 had malignancy and the rest 05 cases could not be diagnosed.

Almost all positive cases were proved to have TB; however, only a few per cent of negative cases were false negative and came out to have TB later. Thus, the combination of FNAC and follow-up may provide cent per cent results. This is enough to establish the efficacy of FNAC to diagnose cervical TB.