ENLARGED SOLITARY NECK NODE: A STUDY OF 75 PATIENTS

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the causes of enlarged solitary lymph node of more than one month duration in the neck. Material and Methods: This study was conducted at Departments of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery Postgraduate Medical Institutes, Peshawar from January 2005 to Dec, 2006. A total of 75 patients were included. All the patients were evaluated through detailed history and clinical examinations. Beside these, laboratory, radiological, endoscopic, Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology and histological studies were performed. Results: A total of 75 patients with mean age of 35 years were studied during this period. Male to female ratio was 1.2:1. Out of 75 patients, 29 (39%) were metastatic, 27 (36%) tuberculous, 16 (22%) had lymphoma and 1 (1.5%) each of toxoplasmosis, infectious mononucleosis and sarcoidosis. Conclusion: As malignancy was the commonest cause of solitary neck lymphadenopathy, so every patient especially old age group should be properly investigated to exclude metastatic diseases.