All issues > Volume 49(2); 2006

Original Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2006;49(2):167-172. Published online February 15, 2006.

Fine needle aspiration cytology of enlarged lymph nodes in children and adolescents

Seung Min SM Lee¹, Yoon Jung YJ Oh¹, Yong Hoon YH Jun¹, Young Jin YJ Hong¹, Byong Kwan BK Son¹, Soon Ki SK Kim¹, Jee Young JY Han¹, Young Chae YC Chu²

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon, Korea
²Department of Pathologic, College of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon, Korea

Correspondence Soon Ki SK Kim ,Email: pedkim@inha.ac.kr

Abstract

Purpose
: Palpable lymph nodes are common in the pediatric population, and most of them are either inflammatory or congenital. As the diagnostic evaluation, fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is known to be more convenient and economical than tissue biopsy. We evaluated the usefulness of FNAC in children and adolescents.
Methods
: Four hundred and thirteen FNAC samples(M : F=1 : 1.15) were retrospectively analyzed in patients who were brought to Inha University Hospital, from August 1999 to August 2004.
Results
: The most common age group was 16-20 years of age(N=148, 35.8 percent). The cervical area was the most frequently involved site(N=310, 75 percent). Non-specific lymphadenitis was the most common(N=227, 54.9 percent), followed by the benign neoplasm(N=59, 14.2 percent). Malignant tumors were 18 cases(4.3 percent), and congenital diseases were found in 10 cases(2.4 percent). In inflammatory lesions, tuberculous lymphadenitis(N=22, 5.3 percent) was the most common with a histologic sensitivity of 90.9 percent. The peripheral blood and serologic studies were non-specific. Fifty nine percent(N=244) of lymphadenitis improved without specific management. Antibiotics were prescribed in 15.2 percent of lymphadenitis and lymphadenectomy was performed in 12.6 percent.
Conclusion
: Most of the enlarged lymph nodes in children and adolescents were benign. These results show FNAC is a safe, rapid and reliable diagnostic procedure for the appropriate differential diagnosis of enlarged lymph nodes in children and adolescents.

Keywords :Fine needle aspiration cytology , Enlarged lymph node