Cytomorphological spectrum of cysticercosis: A study of 26 cases

Cysticercosis is a systemic parasitic disease caused by the larval stage of Taenia solium. It is the most common parasitic disease worldwide. Fine needle aspiration cytology can play an important role in prompt recognition of this disease.

To study the role of FNAC in the diagnosis of cysticercosis.

This study included 26 patients with parasitic infestation who presented with palpable subcutaneous and intramuscular nodules at different sites. Their clinical presentations and fine needle aspiration cytomorphological features are reported.

The age range of these patients was 7-60 years. The majority were males. The most commonly affected site was head and neck followed by upper extremity. Most of the cases were clinically misdiagnosed as lipomas, neurofibromas, lymphadenitis, epidermal inclusion cyst, sialadenitis, and soft tissue tumours. The aspirate was clear fluid in the majority of cases. All of the cases revealed fragments of bladder wall with associated granulomas in seven cases and giant cells in four cases. However, none of the case revealed hooklets.

Fine needle aspiration cytology can provide a simple, minimally invasive, low-cost, outpatient diagnostic technique for the diagnosis of cysticercosis, as cytological diagnosis is quite clear when the actual parasitic structures are identified in the smear.