International Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Pathology

Filarial infection in India is endemic. The parasite has been identified in different kinds of cytologic specimens of which few cases of pleural effusions with microfilariae have been reported. We report a case of a 71 year old man presenting with chest pain and breathlessness showing an encysted pleural effusion on imaging studies. On aspiration of this effusion the fluid was hemorrhagic and the smears studied showed microfilariae. Microfilariae were not found in the peripheral blood. The patient had a mild peripheral eosinophilia and circulating filarial antigen test was positive. Our case shows that filariasis can be seen within a haemothorax and should be kept in mind while screening hemorrhagic effusions.