Clinico-pathological spectrum of filariasis in fine needle aspiration cytology: 7 years retrospective study in a tertiary care hospital of North India

Mala Sagar; Rita Yadav; Madhu Kumar; Ridhi Jaiswal; Malti Kumari; Ajay Kumar

doi:10.33545/pathol.2019.v2.i1e.68

Clinico-pathological spectrum of filariasis in fine needle aspiration cytology: 7 years retrospective study in a tertiary care hospital of North India

Mala Sagar, Rita Yadav, Madhu Kumar, Ridhi Jaiswal, Malti Kumari and Ajay Kumar

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33545/pathol.2019.v2.i1e.68

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ABSTRACT

Background: Filarial infestation is common in developing countries like India. It is transmitted by bite of culex mosquito. They usually present with superficial nodular swelling and lymph node enlargement with variety of clinical symptoms, however the index of suspicion is always low. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a very cost effective tool for rapid diagnosis of the disease. It is a retrospective analysis of filarial cases diagnosed on FNAC in the last 7 years to study the clinico-pathological spectrum.

Material and Methods: The records of the department of cytology KGMU were searched from Jan 2010 to Dec 2016 and all the cases of filariasis involving different tissues and body fluids were analysed in detail for cytomorphological and clinical features.

Results: A total of 32 cases of filariasis were evaluated. Most common age group affected was 30-40 years (range: 12-70 years). Out of 32 cases, 11 cases presented as nodular superficial swellings, 9 cases as lymphadenopathy, 5cases were found in thyroid, 2 cases in breast, 2 cases in salivary gland and each case in testis, lung and ascitic fluid. Majority of cases (62.5%) showed chronic inflammation, 7 cases (21.8%) were associated with malignancies including metastatic as well as primary of various tissues. Microfilariae were also detected with benign phylloides tumor of breast in one case (3.1%) and with colloid goitre thyroid in 4 cases (15.6%).

Conclusion: Nodular superficial swelling is the most common presentation; however filarial worms can invade many more organs of the body. It can present solely as granulomatous inflammation or remain asymptomatic and found as an incidental finding. Conventional mode of diagnosis is demonstration of microfilaria in peripheral blood smear and body fluids. Co-existence of microfilaria with neoplastic lesions is rare. Fine needle aspiration cytology plays a vital role in the diagnosis of these lesions.