FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY (FNAC) OF HEAD AND NECK SWELLINGS: A CROSS SECTIONAL HOSPITAL BASED STUDY EVALUATED IN A RURAL TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF WESTERN ASSAM

Abstract

Introduction: Head and neck swellings are common clinical presentations, especially in rural populations. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is a rapid, minimally invasive, and cost-effective diagnostic technique for their evaluation. This study is aimed to assess the cytomorphological spectrum of head and neck swellings and analyze their distribution according to age, sex, anatomical site, and nature of lesions in a rural tertiary care hospital of western Assam. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Pathology of a rural tertiary care hospital in western Assam from January 2025 to December 2025. All cases of head and neck swellings evaluated by FNAC during the study period were included. Cytological diagnoses were retrieved from departmental records and categorized based on cytomorphological features. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 165 cases were studied, including 83 females (50.3%) and 82 males (49.7%), with a mean age of 35.6 years. Lymph nodes were the most common site (43.6%), followed by thyroid (30.3%), parotid gland (13.3%), and soft tissue (12.7%). Benign lesions were most frequent (39.4%), followed by inflammatory (30.9%) and granulomatous lesions (10.3%). Malignant lesions accounted for 12.1% of cases and were predominantly seen in patients above 50 years of age. Conclusion: FNAC is a reliable and economical first-line diagnostic tool for head and neck swellings, enabling early detection of malignancy and guiding appropriate management, particularly in resource-limited rural settings.