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Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC)  

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the enlarged lymph node is recommended in patients without any obvious primary tumours. In patients in whom fine needle aspiration is non-diagnostic, an excision biopsy of the node is advisable. In patients with enlarged cervical (neck) lymph nodes with an obvious primary tumour in the oral cavity or oropharynx, the biopsy is always taken from the primary site and not from the lymph node.

Image	Caption
	Figure 1: Localization of the site of aspiration in a patient with enlarged lymph node.
	Figure 2: Aspiration of cytological material for evaluation.
	Figure 3: Transfer of the aspirated material onto a glass slide.
	Figure 4: Preparation of the cytology smear.
	Figure 5: Fixation of the cytology smear in the alcohol-ether solution.