Raghuveer Cv

Microfilariae in cytologic smears: a report of six cases.

BACKGROUND Filariasis is a major public health problem in tropical countries, including India. Despite this high incidence, it is unusual to find microfilariae in fine needle aspiration cytology. (FNAC) smears and body fluids. Six cases of filariasis diagnosed by FNAC are reported. CASES In case 1, a thyroid aspirate from a 23-year-old female showed a microfilaria with colloid and thyroid follicular cells. In case 2, pericardial fluid from a 50-year-old male with breathlessness and chest pain showed clusters of malignant cells and many microfilariae. In case 3, a bronchial aspirate from a 55-year-old male with fever and chest pain showed aggregates of acute inflammatory cells and a microfilaria. Cases 4 and 5 were lymph node aspirates from a 29-year-old male and 3-year-old female. Both smears showed microfilariae in a background of reactive lymphoid cells. In case 6, FNAC from a 21-year-old female with a cystic swelling in the breast showed clusters of microfilariae, lymphocytes and granular debris. CONCLUSION In three of the six cases microfilariae were the cause of symptoms, whereas in the other three cases, microfilariae were associated with other diseases, including malignancy. Thus, careful screening of FNAC smears might be helpful in detecting microfilariae, even in asymptomatic patients.

Comparative study of peripheral blood smear, quantitative buffy coat and modified centrifuged blood smear in malaria diagnosis.

The present study was aimed at modifying the centrifuged blood smear (modified centrifuged blood smear or MCBS), to make it a feasible and standardized procedure. The results obtained were compared with the current diagnostic methods - peripheral blood smear (PBS) and quantitative buffy coat (QBC). Blood samples collected from 100 suspected malaria patients were subjected to all three tests. It was found that PBS had 86.79% sensitivity and was absolutely specific. QBC was 96.22% sensitive and 93.61% specific. The majority of variations occurred in PBS negative cases; cases with parasite count Plasmodium falciparum. It was seen that by the addition of centrifugation to the conventional smear technique (MCBS) improved its sensitivity from 86.79% to near 100%. QBC and MCBS were found superior to PBS. Since MCBS combines principles of both QBC and PBS, it is as sensitive as QBC, as specific as PBS, and above all, easily performed and affordable.