BACKGROUND: Filarial worms lodge anywhere, from body fluids to subcutaneous tissue, as various case reports prove. CASE: A 21-year-old Nepali male presented with bilateral groin swellings. Imaging studies showed dilated retroperitoneal lymphatics forming a mass, suggestive of lymphangioma or lymphangioleiomyoma. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) of the retroperitoneal mass revealed microfilariae of Wuchereria bancrofti. CONCLUSION: This is the first reported case of retroperitoneal filarial lymphangiectasia diagnosed on FNA, thus stressing the importance of FNA as a simple yet effective diagnostic tool.
BACKGROUND: Filarial worms lodge anywhere, from body fluids to subcutaneous tissue, as various case reports prove. CASE: A 21-year-old Nepali male presented with bilateral groin swellings. Imaging studies showed dilated retroperitoneal lymphatics forming a mass, suggestive of lymphangioma or lymphangioleiomyoma. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) of the retroperitoneal mass revealed microfilariae of Wuchereria bancrofti. CONCLUSION: This is the first reported case of retroperitoneal filarial lymphangiectasia diagnosed on FNA, thus stressing the importance of FNA as a simple yet effective diagnostic tool.
Authors: Parampil Thulasidharan Shibu Kandalam; Arif Nelliyulla Parampath; Hanan Ibrahim Farghaly; Salem Abo Salah; Muhammed Kunhi Kayakkool; Joe Varghese Mathew; Pradeep Radhakrishnan; Ibrahim Al Badawi; Saleena Farook Journal: Qatar Med J Date: 2016-02-03