Laura Adhikari
Washington University School of Medicine, USA
Biography
Fine needle aspirates of enlarged lymph nodes are among the most commonly encountered specimens in cytopathology. They are common sites for evaluation of metastatic disease and lymphoma. Today there is still much debate over the clinical utility of fine needle aspiration for the work up in an abnormal lymphoproliferative process. A general understanding of lymphoma and reactive lymphoid processes are keys to understanding tissue limitations. In an age where molecular testing is more readily available, use of flow cytometry, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), PCR and immunohistochemical stains can be helpful in the work-up for the initial presentation of a patient with lymphadenopathy.