Table 1:

Clinical assessment and indications for FNA of lymph nodes (Modified from The Sydney system for reporting LN-FNA, 2020).^[14b]

Lymph node FNA issues	Clinical scenario	Course of action
Clinical data to review when interpreting lymph node FNA	Single or multiple lymph nodes without relevant history	Mandatory
	Single or multiple lymph node with known pathology	Mandatory
Clinical data to review when interpreting lymph node FNA	Age, symptoms, site, size, time of onset, imaging (US)	Mandatory
	Remote and current medical history	Mandatory
	Basic serology (ESR, LDH, ToRCH complex, ANA, others)	Recommended
	Specific serology (known or suspected disease)	Recommended
Indications for performing lymph node FNA	Differential diagnosis: lymph node versus not lymph node in atypical sites (intercostal, intra-mammary, epitrochlear, intra-parotid, retroperitoneal, and other sites)	Recommended
	Exclude malignancy and avoid lymph node excision for benign/reactive processes	Suggested
	Diagnosis and staging of lymphoma or metastasis	Recommended
	Diagnosis and microbial culture material for infectious etiologies	Suggested
	Relieve anxiety for benign/reactive processes	Suggested
	Cell collection for diagnostic and predictive tests	Suggested
	Cell collection for clinical trials or other research tests	Suggested

US: Ultrasound, ESR: Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, LDH: Lactate dehydrogenase, ToRCH: Toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex, and HIV, ANA: Antinuclear antibodies