FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY OF LYMPH NODES IN HIV INFECTED PATIENTS.

Lymphadenopathy is the commonest presentation in HIV positive individuals. Fine needle aspiration cytology of 196 HIV positive patients was studied during six monthly review. 75% paients in this study who were asymptomatic were detected to have lymphadenopathy during the surveillance. 82% had lymph nodes smaller than 1cm size. Lymphadenopathy at more than one site was observed in 46.8% cases. Commonest opportunistic infection noticed was tuberculosis (TB) in 34.2%. Cyto-morphologically reactive pattern with Add fast bacilli (AFB) positivity was observed in 16.4% of TB cases. In 2.9% cases AFB were detected even in the tissue fluid. Negative images of AFB were observed in the macrophages in 3 cases. TB was detected with equal frequency in both asymptomatic and symptomatic groups. Axillary nodes pose problem due to deeper location. False positives were a case of dermatopathic lymphadenopathy and a case of Kimura's disease. False negatives include two cases of TB lymphadenitis. Pathogens should be looked for irrespective of cyto-morphology. Biopsy should be done to confirm cases of lymphomas. Fine needle aspiration cytology should be included in the protocol of six monthly review of HIV infected cases.