Diagnosis of parasites in fine needle breast aspirates

Abstract

Objective: To document the value of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the diagnosis of parasites in breast aspirates.

Study design: Review of 8,364 breast aspirates studied over 15 years (1978-1992) for parasitic infections.

Results: Eight cases of cysticercosis and nine of filariasis were detected among 4,714 benign breast aspirates. Diagnosis of cysticercosis was based on identification of parts of the parasite in aspirates (seven cases) and excisional biopsy (one case). Among the cases of filariasis in breast aspirates, gravid adult females of Wuchereria bancrofti were seen in three cases and microfilarial larvae in four. In the remaining two cases, an intense, eosinophilic infiltrate was seen in breast aspirates, while microfilariae were identified in aspirates from draining axillary lymph nodes.

Conclusion: In rare cases, parasitic infections present as breast lumps and can be easily diagnosed by FNAC.