Bancroftian lymphangitis in northeastern Brazil: a histopathological study of 17 cases

The histological features in 17 patients (3 males and 14 females) with bancroftian lymphangitis, apparently not associated with lymphadenitis, are described. Degenerative alteration in the worms and a severe inflammatory process were observed in the great majority of the cases. The patterns of tissue reaction varied, including exudative, infiltrative and granulomatous lesions. Eosinophils were present, usually in great numbers. Thirteen out of 14 female subjects showed involvement of the breast lymphatics, and in two of these cases microfilariae were found in addition to adult worms. The breast parenchyma was in general spared. In men, lymphatics of the epididymis were affected; in one case, the patient was submitted for surgical castration for prostatic cancer and intact filarial worms without tissue reaction were incidentally detected in peritesticular lymphatics.