title: Fine needle aspiration cytologic diagnosis of toxoplasma lymphadenitis. A case report with detection of a Toxoplasma bradycyst in a Papanicolaou-stained smear.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytologic diagnosis of toxoplasmic lymphadenitis with demonstration of a tissue cyst containing bradyzoites has been very rarely reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 17-year-old female presented with a mobile, painless, 2-cm-diameter swelling over the right suprascapular area. Clinical diagnosis was lipoma. FNA smears showed features of reactive lymphoid hyperplasia, including tingible body macrophages and groups of epithelioid histiocytes. A Toxoplasma cyst with bradyzoites was also demonstrated in a Papanicolaou-stained smear. Following FNA cytodiagnosis, serologic tests revealed a high titer of IgG and the presence of IgM-specific antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii, indicating active/recent disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FNA cytology is a valuable tool for the diagnosis of toxoplasmic lymphadenitis. Papanicolaou stain is appropriate for demonstration of the parasite. Serology is an excellent adjunct in clinching the diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Cytopathology Unit, Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Shahed K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Pathan
authors.forename: Issam M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: Dilip K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Mrinmay K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Mallik
authors.forename: Zafar A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Sheikh
authors.forename: Parsotam R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Hira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003560:Cysts / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008067:Lipoma / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D008199:Lymphadenitis / Q000097:blood / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D012782:Shoulder / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M