Role of cytology in diagnosis of filariasis in clinically unsuspected cases: A study from an endemic area of Western Uttar Pradesh in India.

Abstract

Filariasis is a global health problem. Lymphatic filariasis is the second most common vector-borne disease in India and is a major contributor to chronic deformity like elephantiasis. The disease is widespread in India and highly endemic zones are present in several states, particularly Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh. Filariasis can rarely present as asymptomatic swellings in various unusual sites in the body and very uncommonly as a sole finding in effusion cytology. Cytology plays a very crucial role in incidental diagnosis of filariasis in clinically unsuspected cases. The purpose of this study is to analyze the role of cytology in diagnosis of filariasis, especially in clinically unsuspected cases and to study the cytological findings associated with filariasis in these cases . The present observational descriptive study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital of this region. We collected the cases for this study from our routine cytology cases (FNAC/Body fluids) of over a three years period from March’2017 to March’2020 . All the diagnosed cases of filariasis in cytology were then evaluated by two pathologists. Aspiration was done using 23 G needle attached to a 10/20 cc syringe. Descriptive statistical analysis was done wherever required.Nine cases of filariasis were diagnosed in routine cytology smears (FNAC/Body fluids) during our three years study period. Conclusion: Cytology plays a very crucial role in diagnosis of filariasis in endemic areas, especially in those with atypical presentations. Therefore meticulous screening of all cytology smears is strongly indicated. Key Words: Filariasis, Cytology, Incidental diagnosis, Endemic area