Histopathological Profile and Clinical Correlates of Lymphadenopathy in A Tertiary Care Centre

Abstract

In the present cross-sectional study, a total of 200 lymph node biopsy specimens were evaluated histopathologically to determine the spectrum of lymph node lesions and their clinicopathological correlations. Reactive hyperplasia was the most common diagnosis, accounting for 68 cases (34%), followed by granulomatous lymphadenitis, predominantly tuberculous in nature, observed in 56 cases (28%). Malignant lesions constituted a substantial proportion of cases, with metastatic deposits identified in 44 biopsies (22%) and lymphomas diagnosed in 32 cases (16%). Analysis of age distribution revealed that benign lesions, particularly reactive hyperplasia and granulomatous lymphadenitis, were more frequently encountered in younger individuals, whereas malignant lesions were significantly more common among older patients. Cervical lymph nodes represented the most frequent site of involvement overall, especially in reactive and granulomatous lesions. In contrast, supraclavicular lymphadenopathy demonstrated a strong association with malignancy, particularly metastatic disease. Node size also showed significant correlation with histopathological diagnosis, with larger lymph nodes more frequently harboring malignant pathology. Similarly, lymph nodes with a longer duration of enlargement prior to presentation were significantly associated with metastatic and lymphomatous lesions compared with reactive and infective conditions. Statistical analysis using chi-square testing demonstrated significant associations between histological diagnosis and clinical variables including patient age, lymph node site, node size, and duration of lymphadenopathy (p < 0.05). The findings highlight the diverse pathological spectrum of lymphadenopathy and emphasize the importance of integrating clinical characteristics with histopathological examination. Histopathology proved invaluable in distinguishing benign from malignant conditions and provided definitive diagnostic information necessary for appropriate patient management and therapeutic decision-making.