Patterns of lymph node pathology using biopsy evaluation tool for lymphadenopathy: a retrospective descriptive study conducted at Al Hussein Medical City 2014–2016

Abstract

Objective The study was assumed to determine the histopathological spectrum of lymphadenopathic specimens where was a common site and showed the age and gender variation of these lesion distribution.
Methods It was a descriptive retrospective study wherein 130 cases of lymph node biopsy reports of specimens from patients 3 months to 81 years at Al Hussein Medical City between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2016 were studied.
Results A total of 130 lymph node biopsies were received of which female 58.46% (76 cases) and male 41.53% (54 cases), a male to female ratio of 1:1.4 and the P value 0.011 with significance difference. The age range was from 3 months to 81 years. Most cases were seen in the age group of 21–30 years (25 cases 19.23%). The non-neoplastic lesions were more common comprising 66.9% (87 cases) included 46.9% (61 cases) of chronic nonspecific lymphadenitis, tuberculosis lymphadenitis 18.46% (24 cases) and other lesions 1.5%, while the neoplastic lesions 33.07% (43 cases) included non-Hodgkin lymphoma 13.07% (17 cases), Hodgkin lymphoma 12.30% (16 cases) and secondary metastasis 7.69% (10 cases). The more common site was cervical 93.07% (121 cases), axillary 4.6% (6 cases), inguanal 1.5% (2 cases) and mesenteric 0.7% (1 case).
Conclusions The most common pathological pattern seen was chronic nonspecific lymphadenopathy (46.6%) followed by tuberculosis lymphadenitis 18.46%, non-Hodgkin lymphoma 13.07%, Hodgkin lymphoma 12.30%, and secondary metastasis 7.69% and others 1.5%. It is more common in female than male, and the more common site is cervical lymphadenopathy 93.07%. The earlier diagnosis and management of tuberculosis and earlier diagnosis of malignancies before the onset of nodal metastases may explain the result.