Role of fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of tubercular lymphadenitis.

The need for a rapid diagnosis of the cervical lymphnodes presenting to the surgeon in the out patient department resulted in this study. A total of 123 cases were studied to evaluate Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology as a diagnostic procedure and a diagnostic accuracy of 89.77 per cent was achieved in tubercular lymphnodes. FNAC along with Mantoux test and Erythrocytic sedimentation rate (ESR) gave an over all diagnostic accuracy of 97.72 per cent. Thus the role of FNAC as a safe, quick and reliable procedure in the diagnosis of tubercular lymphadenitis was established.