The clinical and cytomorphological spectrum of hydatid disease

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.

To study the clinical and cytomorphological spectrum of HD diagnosed by cytology.

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.

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).

Clinicians and pathologists should be aware of the clinical and morphological spectrum of HD respectively for immediate diagnosis followed by prompt management.