Where do these guests come from? A diagnostic approach for metastatic lymph nodes

Özet

Objective: In cases presenting with lymphadenopathies (LAP) without a primary focus detected by simple radiologicalmethods, the primary tumor can be diagnosed by a histopathological evaluation of the metastatic lymph nodes.We aimed to discuss the nonhematological malignancies presenting with lymphadenopathies and the histopathologicalresults for primary tumors.Material and Methods: In this retrospective study, cases diagnosed with metastasis in excisional lymph nodes betweenJanuary 2013 and June 2016 were assessed for a histopathological diagnostic approachResults: Among 632 lymph node biopsies, a total of 21 cases, involving 12 male and 9 female patients with amean age of 57.23 y (range, 33–92 y), of nonhematological solid tumors were included. The most common localizationsof the involved lymph nodes were inguinal (n=8), axillary (n=6), cervical (n=4), and supraclavicular(n=3) region. The most common primary tumors were malignant melanoma (n=6), breast carcinoma (n=4),ovarian carcinoma (n=2), squamous cell carcinoma (n=2), and germ cell tumor (n=2). Others were papillarythyroid carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, urothelial carcinoma, prostate adenocarcinoma, and endometrialadenocarcinoma.Conclusion: Nonhematological malignancies presenting with lymphadenopathies are one of the most complicatedcases for clinicians. The histopathological evaluation of the excisional metastatic lymph node biopsies is an importantmethod because of cost effectiveness and easy applicability.