Morphological spectrum of peripheral lymphadenopathy – A hospital based study

Background: Lymphnode is one of the commonest site for neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases. This study was undertaken to analyse the patterns of lesions seen in peripheral lymphadenopathy cases. Materials and Method: This retrospective study of 103 cases of lymphnode biopsies was carried out in the department of pathology for a period of 3 years. Relevant patient data were retrieved from the file. Slides were reviewed thoroughly and special stains were applied wherever necessary. Results: Out of 103 cases, 88 (85.4%) were non-neoplastic lesions and 15 (14.6%) were neoplastic lesions. The most commonly biopsied group was cervical nodes. Tuberculosis was the most common condition 44 cases (42.7%) followed by reactive hyperplasia 41 cases (39.8%). Of the 15 cases (14.6%) of malignancy, 10 (9.7%) were metastatic deposits and 5 (4.9%) were lymphomas. Conclusion: Tuberculosis is the leading cause of lymphadenopathy and young females are commonly affected. Histopathology is the gold standard in confirming the diagnosis of lymphnode lesions. Keywords: Lymphnode, Lymphoma, Neoplastic, Tuberculosis