Clinico-Radiological and Cytopathological Spectrum of Parasitic Infections Diagnosed by Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology: A Study at a Rural Tertiary Care Center.

OBJECTIVE

To study the clinicopathological spectrum of parasitic infections diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) with histopathological and radiological correlation.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study where out of a total of 6213 FNAC of superficial palpable lumps from various sites performed during the study period of 1 year, that is, from July 2022 to July 2023, 97 (1.56%) cases were retrieved out of which 56 cases (0.90%) were diagnosed as definitive parasitic lesions and 41 (0.65%) cases were suspicious of parasitic lesion on cytology which were later correlated with histological and clinical findings.

RESULTS

Among 97 patients, 47 were males (48.5%) and 50 were females (51.5%) with the maximum number of cases in the age group of 10-45 years (50%). Overall, the most commonly affected site was the upper extremities 36/97 (37.1%) followed by the lower extremities 26/97 (26.8%) and the abdominal wall 14/97 (14.4%). Cytological findings revealed cysticercosis in 45/97 (46.3%) cases, followed by filaria in 5/97 (5.15%), echinococcus in 6/97 (6.18%), and suspicious parasitic lesions in 41/97 (42.2%) cases. 24 cases had histopathology for confirmation mostly in those suspicious for parasitic lesions. Radiological findings in parasitic lesions to depict specific features were also obtained.

CONCLUSION

FNAC is a rapid, safe, cheap, reliable, and early diagnostic modality to diagnose parasitic infections in developing/endemic nations where parasitic infestation is one of the major health concerns. Careful inspection of swellings, their aspirates, and examination of cytological smears is highly useful for early and definitive diagnosis of the disease leading to proper treatment as well as control of infestations.