Fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of cysticercosis cases

Objective To document the value of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) in the diagnosis of cysticercosis. Methods: Aspirates smears of 102 cases of cysticercosis from different sites like extremities, head, neck, forearm, arm, chest wall and abdominal wall were studied in the Department of Pathology, BPKIHS, Dharan, Nepal. Results: in 7 cases (9.73%) lingual cysticercosis was diagnosed. Involvement of breast was seen in 4 cases (5.56%) which is a rare presentation. On cytomorphological examination, parts of cysticercus cellulose were seen in (97. 22%) cases. Conclusion: The characteristic cytomorphological features of parasitic tegument, parenchymatous portion, presence of giant cells and inflammatory cells in cytological smears help diagnose the cases of cysticercosis. FNAC provides safe and rapid tool for diagnosis of cysticercosis. In endemic areas, cysticercosis should be considered one of the differential diagnosis of the swellings.