Microfilaria in pleural fluid cytology: A rare finding

• Main Authors: Subrata Pal, Kingshuk Bose, Abhishek Sharma, Mrinal Sikder
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd. 2017-04-01
• Series: Journal of Laboratory Physicians
• Subjects: microfilaria; pleural effusion; wuchereria bancrofti
• Online Access: http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.4103/0974-2727.199638

Lymphatic filariasis is endemic in India and Southeast Asia. Detection of microfilaria is infrequently reported during cytological evaluation of various lesions or body cavity fluids. Presence of microfilaria in pleural fluid cytology is very rare finding even in endemic areas. Few cases of accidental finding of microfilaria have been reported in association with malignant pleural effusion. But pleural effusion of filarial origin is extremely rare manifestation. Here we report a classical case of microfilaria in pleural fluid cytology.