Which diagnostic test would you perform to sample the mandibular lymph node aspirate?

• A. Cytology Of Mandibular Lymph Node Aspirate
• B. Urinalysis
• C. Thoracic Radiographs
• D. Blood Culture

Answer: (A)

Sampling a mandibular lymph node for diagnostic information is best accomplished by cytology of the aspirated material. Fine-needle aspiration collects cells from the node, and examining those cells under a microscope reveals whether the node is inflamed, infected, or neoplastic, helping distinguish reactive processes from lymphoma or metastatic disease.

Urinalysis looks at urine and assesses renal or urinary tract issues, not the lymph node. Thoracic radiographs image the chest and help evaluate lungs, heart, or mediastinum, but they don’t sample the node. Blood culture detects organisms in the bloodstream, not lymph node tissue.