Jyoti Mishra

Detection of Microfilaria on fine Needle Aspiration from Breast Lump: An Uncommon Finding

An 18 year old female presented to the surgical OPD of Sharda Hospital, Greater Noida, with ill defined lump in lower outer quadrant of right breast measuring 1x1cm. It was tender and firm in consistency and was not freely mobile. The axillary lymph nodes were not palpable. The overlying skin did not show discoloration, any ulceration and there was no nipple discharge. The patient was for FNAC to department of pathology. Fine needle aspiration from breast lump yielded a scant blood mixed aspirate. Microscopically, the smears revealed a microfilaria lying near a small cluster of benign ductal epithelial cells. The microfilaria was ensheathed and the nuclei were arranged within the long axis and spared the tip ends. (Figure 1a, c) The ductal epithelial cells were disposed in small tight clusters. The cells were mildly enlarged and showed moderate amount of cytoplasm. (Figure 1b, c) The background showed fibromyxoid stroma along with mild inflammatory infiltrate.