Liquid-based cytological diagnosis of achylous unilateral bancroftian pleural effusion: An uncommon presentation of a common problem

Abstract

Lymphatic filariasis is endemic and common in India. Filariasis is a widespread public health problem seen commonly in tropical countries. Filarial organism can be detected in cytological smears from various sites of the body in clinically unsuspected cases of filariasis. Incidental detection of filarial organism has been reported in cytological smears from almost any part of the body; however, it is very rare to detect these organisms in achylous hemorrhagic pleural fluid specimen. Demonstration of microfilaria in liquid-based cytological smears is rarely reported. To the best of our knowledge, the present case of achylous bancroftian pleural effusion diagnosed on liquid-based cytology (LBC) is the first one from the Indian subcontinent. We report a case with microfilariae of Wuchereria bancrofti in an 80-year-old male patient who presented with achylous, hemorrhagic unilateral pleural effusion in LBC.