Open AccessIncidental diagnosis of filariasis in association with carcinoma of gall bladder: Report of a case evidenced on ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology with review of the literature
Author(s) -
Rajani Sinha,
Sanjay Sengupta,
Subrata Pal,
Anindya Adhikari
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of cytology/journal of cytology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.267
H-Index - 19
eISSN - 0974-5165
pISSN - 0970-9371
DOI - 10.4103/0970-9371.145662
Subject(s) - medicine , microfilaria , filariasis , asymptomatic , occult , pathology , gallbladder , lymphatic filariasis , fine needle aspiration cytology , cytology , endoscopic ultrasound , fine needle aspiration , radiology , surgery , helminths , biopsy , immunology , alternative medicine
Lymphatic filariasis is endemic in India and South-East Asia. Detection of microfilaria is infrequently reported during cytological evaluation of various lesions or body cavity fluids. Microfilariae in cytological smears of few benign and malignant neoplasms have also been reported. Here we present a very rare case of presence of microfilariae in a smear from ultrasound guided fine-needle aspiration of gallbladder adenocarcinoma. The present patient is probably the second reported case in the literature harboring occult filariasis in association with gallbladder carcinoma. Though it is a chance finding, cytology can be an effective tool for detection of asymptomatic filariasis helping to pave the way of disease eradication.