BACKGROUND Fine needle aspiration cytology is a simple important diagnostic tool in the evaluation of lymph node lesions. It is an OPD procedure with little trauma to a patient at a lower cost compared to biopsy. Fine needle aspiration cytology not only confirms the presence of metastatic disease but also, in most cases, gives the clue regarding the origin of the primary tumor. The aim of the study was to find out the cytological diagnosis of metastatic lymph node lesions. METHODS A prospective study was done on all suspected cases of metastatic lymph node lesions (including superficial and deep lymph nodes) reported in Department of Pathology, Karnataka Medical College and Research institute, Hubballi from January 2024 to May 2025. RESULT Fine needle aspiration cytology was conducted for 1300 lymph nodes, out of which 374 cases were diagnosed as metastatic deposits. The most common site was anterior and posterior triangle cervical nodes. The most common malignancy was metastatic squamous cell carcinoma, seen in 162 cases (43.32%). CONCLUSION Fine needle aspiration cytology of lymphadenopathy is a useful tool in diagnosing metastatic lesions with good certainty.

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology, Lymphadenopathy, Metastatic Deposits