Histopathological Diagnoses of Lymphadenopathy from Excisional Biopsies: A Retrospective Study at a Tertiary Care Center

Background: Lymph nodes, distributed throughout the human body, are critical components of the immune system and are routinely evaluated for pathological changes. These nodes are susceptible to infection and neoplastic transformation. Lymphadenopathy, characterized by abnormal lymph node size and/or number, is a common clinical finding. Reactive lymphadenitis and granulomatous lymphadenitis represent frequent etiologies of lymphadenopathy. Excisional biopsy followed by histopathological examination remains the definitive diagnostic modality for lymph node disorders. Methods: A retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted, encompassing all patients who underwent lymph node biopsies at SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack between January 2023 and December 2024. Histopathology reports of all lymph node biopsies performed at this period were included in the analysis. Results: Tuberculous lymphadenitis was the predominant diagnosis, constituting 53.2% (n=251) of the 120 analyzed cases. A higher prevalence of tuberculous lymphadenitis was observed in female patients (52%) compared to male patients (48%), although the difference was not statistical significant. Malignant diagnoses represented the second most frequent category, accounting for 17% of cases. Conclusions: The evaluation of lymphadenopathy necessitates appropriate diagnostic procedures, including fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), core needle biopsy, and/or excisional biopsy, to establish an accurate diagnosis. The histopathological spectrum of lymph node biopsies encompasses a range of conditions from benign reactive hyperplasia to tuberculosis and malignancy.