Peripheral Lymph Node Excisional Biopsy: Yield, Relevance, and Outcomes in a Remote Surgical Setup

OBJECTIVE: To study the patient profile for symptomatic peripheral lymphadenopathy in terms of histopathological findings and demography and evaluate the yield, relevance, and outcomes of peripheral lymph node biopsy (PLNB) as a diagnostic step in a remote setup in the absence of less invasive options like fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) or ultrasonogram- (USG-) guided FNAC. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients undergoing PLNB between 1 May 2011 and 30 April 2013 was done. Demographics, histopathological reports, and outcomes were studied. RESULTS: Of 132 patients, 51 (38.63%) were male and 81 (61.36%) were female. There were 48 (36.3%) patients in the age group less than 16 years, and 84 (63.6%) were beyond 16 years. The commonest site of biopsy was the neck in 114 (86.36%) patients. The histopathological diagnosis was tuberculosis (TB) in 60 (45.45%) patients, reactive lymphadenitis in 29 (21.9%), nonspecific granuloma in 18 (13.6%), lymphoma in 7 (5.3%), acute lymphadenitis in 7 (5.3%), metastatic secondary in 3 (2.2%), and other benign causes in 8 (6.06%). CONCLUSIONS: PLNB is a procedure with good diagnostic yield in evaluation of peripheral lymphadenopathy. Its relevance is appreciable in a remote setup where less invasive options are unavailable. Its simplicity and lack of mortality/significant morbidity make it a valid option in rural surgical practice.