INTRODUCTION: Hydatid disease (HD) is caused by the tapeworm of the genus Echinococcus. Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is an expedient diagnostic technique that may be used for its rapid diagnosis. AIM: To study the clinical and cytomorphological spectrum of HD diagnosed by cytology. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 24 patients diagnosed with HD on FNAC and fluid were studied over a period of 5.5 years. May Grunwald Giemsa, Periodic acid Schiff, and Haematoxylin and Eosin stained smears were studied and analysed for the cytomorphological spectrum of HD. RESULTS: Amongst the 24 patients studied, the mean age was 29.8 years (range 6-64 years). There was equal sex preponderance with 12 males and 12 females. The most common organ involved was lung (54.1% of cases) followed by liver (25% of cases). Presence of laminated membranes (n-20, 83.3%) followed by presence of hooklets (n-13, 54.1%) were the common cytological features. Scolices and protoscolices representing endocyst were seen in 37.5% of cases (n-9). CONCLUSION: Clinicians and pathologists should be aware of the clinical and morphological spectrum of HD respectively for immediate diagnosis followed by prompt management.
INTRODUCTION:Hydatid disease (HD) is caused by the tapeworm of the genus Echinococcus. Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is an expedient diagnostic technique that may be used for its rapid diagnosis. AIM: To study the clinical and cytomorphological spectrum of HD diagnosed by cytology. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 24 patients diagnosed with HD on FNAC and fluid were studied over a period of 5.5 years. May Grunwald Giemsa, Periodic acid Schiff, and Haematoxylin and Eosin stained smears were studied and analysed for the cytomorphological spectrum of HD. RESULTS: Amongst the 24 patients studied, the mean age was 29.8 years (range 6-64 years). There was equal sex preponderance with 12 males and 12 females. The most common organ involved was lung (54.1% of cases) followed by liver (25% of cases). Presence of laminated membranes (n-20, 83.3%) followed by presence of hooklets (n-13, 54.1%) were the common cytological features. Scolices and protoscolices representing endocyst were seen in 37.5% of cases (n-9). CONCLUSION: Clinicians and pathologists should be aware of the clinical and morphological spectrum of HD respectively for immediate diagnosis followed by prompt management.