Cytodiagnosis of filarial infections from an endemic area.
OBJECTIVE
To throw light on cytologic findings as a possible mode of diagnosis of lymphatic filariasis.


METHODS
Filariasis has worldwide distribution, but lymphatic filariasis predominantly affects tropical and subtropical regions. Demonstration of microfilaremia, the specific test for diagnosis of lymphatic filariasis, often shows false negative results in endemic areas. The present study, done in an endemic area, showed the presence of microfilariae or adult worms of Wuchereria bancrofti in fine needle aspirates collected from amicrofilariaemic cases. In a few cases the discovery was incidental. A total 4,534 cases undergoing cytologic evaluation were carefully screened for the presence of adult worms or larvae, irrespective of clinical diagnosis. Microfilariae were demonstrated in both clinically suspected cases of filariasis and asymptomatic cases.


RESULTS
A total of 1 positive cases were found; in 4 cases the clinical diagnosis was lymphatic filariasis, and 7 cases were asymptomatic. All 11 cases were amicrofilariaemic.


CONCLUSIONS
Various sophisticated investigations are used for diagnosis of lymphatic filariasis without microfilaremia. Fine needle aspiration cytology, being a cheap, simple and easy procedure, may have some role in this field, but further detailed studies are needed before any final claim.
Mallick
Mamata Guha
MG
Department of Pathology, Bankura Sammilani Medical College, Bankura, India.
Sengupta
Sanjay
S
Bandyopadhyay
Anjali
A
Chakraborty
Jayati
J
Ray
Suchandra
S
Guha
Debasish
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D004605:Elephantiasis, Filarial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007814:Larva / Q000166:cytology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010063:Ovum / Q000166:cytology; D014958:Wuchereria bancrofti / Q000166:cytology / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology