China Science

BACKGROUND: Filariasis is a major public health problem in developingcountries, and the diagnosis is conventionally made by demonstrating microfilariae in the peripheralblood smear. However, microfilariae have been incidentally detected in fine needle aspirates ofvarious lesions in clinically unsuspected cases of filariasis with absence of microfilariae in theperipheral blood. CASES: In case 1, a 21-year-old woman presented with multiple left axillarylymphadenopathy of 3 months’ duration. In case 2, a 32-year-old woman presented with a thyroidnodule of 7 months’ duration. Fine needle aspiration smears from both cases showed sheathedmicrofilariae of Wuchereria bancrofti. In both cases, microfilariae could not be demonstrated in theperipheral blood smears and the blood eosinophil counts were within normal limits. Thehistopathologic examination showed neither microfilariae nor adult worm. CONCLUSION: Althoughmicrofilariae in cytologic material are considered incidental findings, these cases illustrate thevalue of routine fine needle aspiration cytology in the detection of asymptomatic and clinicallyunsuspected cases of bancroftian filariasis. Absence of microfilariae in the peripheral blood doesnot exdude filarial infection.

Sivakumar,S
Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, No. 29,Lorong Bertam Indah 4-9, 13200 Kepala Batas, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. sivahisto68@yahoo.co.in

Adult　 Animals　 Biopsy, Fine-Needle　 Female　 Humans　 Lymph NodesMicrofilaria