Microfilaria in a fine needle aspirate of primary solid malignant tumor of the maxillary antrum. A case report.

BACKGROUND

Lymphatic filarial disease is very common in tropical countries like India. The incidental finding of microfilariae in various benign cytologic smears is very common. Microfilariae in malignant effusions have also been reported, but their coexistence with solid malignant tumor at the primary site has not been reported so far.

CASE: A 45-year-old male presented with a painful, rapidly growing swelling over the right maxilla that had been present for three months. On routine fine needle aspiration cytology, a microfilaria along with squamous carcinoma cells in a primary solid malignant tumor of the maxillary antrum was found.

CONCLUSION

This is the first case reported in English of the incidental finding of a microfilaria in a primary tumor of the maxillary antrum.