Cytodiagnosis of filariasis from a swelling of arm
A 32-year-old female, a resident of a village of Bankura district, West Bengal, India, attended fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) clinic of Bankura Sammilani Medical College (BSMC), Bankura with a small swelling near medial aspect of right lower arm. On examination, it was a small subcutaneous slightly elongated swelling 2×1 cm, non-tender, firm, and without any fixity to deeper tissue. FNAC was done with clinical diagnosis of benign soft tissue neoplasm and a drop of fluid was aspirated. Smears show the presence of numerous microfilaria of W. bancrofti without significant inflammatory cell infiltration [Figures –]. There was no evidence of inguinal or femoral filariasis and no history of fever. Routine blood examination revealed normal eosinophil population (4%) and nocturnal blood sample as well as blood sample drawn 1 hour after an oral dose of diethyl carbamazine (provocative test)[] failed to demonstrate microfilaraemia.