An unusual association with carcinoma pancreas: a case report

Rare association of microfilaria with poorly differentiated mucin-secreting metastatic carcinoma in liver aspirate cytology

Filariasis, a neglected tropical disease (NTD), is mainly caused by nematodes-Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi and B. timori Apart from profoundly disabling and disfiguring major clinical manifestations-lymphoedema, elephantiasis and hydrocoele-asymptomatic microfilaremia is common in endemic areas. Despite this, it is very rare to detect microfilariae in body fluids or aspirates. As per the literature search, this is the third case documenting incidental detection of microfilariae with metastatic deposits in the liver aspirate. Here, a 35-year-old man underwent image-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology of liver nodule. Liver aspirate cytology revealed poorly differentiated mucin-secreting metastatic carcinoma and coincidental presence of microfilariae of W. bancrofti Recently, microfilaria has frequently been found to be associated with the debilitated, immunocompromised condition and various neoplasm/cancer/malignancy. Hence, meticulous investigation should be undertaken to search for hidden pathology, whenever microfilariae are detected; and to deeply scrutinise aspirates for such parasites always, especially in endemic regions.

Microfilaria in liver aspiration cytology: an extremely rare finding

Filariasis is a common public health problem in the Indian subcontinent. The diagnosis can be made conventionally by demonstrating microfilaria in peripheral blood smears. Despite its high incidence it is unusual to find microfilariae in fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology smears. Microfilariae have been reported in cytological specimens of various organs, but it is extremely rare to find microfilaria in fine FNA cytology of liver. We report seventh case of microfilaria in liver aspirate in a male patient suffering from gallbladder cancer.