RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Dilemmas in cytodiagnosis of subcutaneous swellings: mimics and look-alikes of cysticercosis
JF Journal of Clinical Pathology
JO J Clin Pathol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists
SP 926
OP 929
DO 10.1136/jcp.2010.076976
VO 63
IS 10
A1 Ram Nawal Rao
A1 N Krishnani
A1 Kiran Malhotra
A1 B Suresh
A1 Ravi Mehrotra
YR 2010
UL http://jcp.bmj.com/content/63/10/926.abstract
AB Background Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is the modality of choice in the initial characterisation of subcutaneous swellings. The site, distribution, number and clinical association of such swellings determines to a large extent the clinical diagnoses rendered in these cases.Aims and Methods 15 unusual cases of subcutaneous cysticercosis, diagnosed by FNA, which clinically simulated diverse aetiologies, are reported.Results Three cases occurred in patients with known malignancies which were thought to be metastatic deposits. In another nine cases the clinical diagnoses included lymphoma, squamous cell carcinoma, neurofibroma and lipoma. Two cases strongly mimicked tubercular lymphadenitis, while one case occurred in a renal transplant recipient.Conclusions FNA may help diagnosis of a parasitic aetiology in cases where malignancy or tuberculosis is a clinical probability. Cysticercosis should be an integral part of the differential diagnosis of all subcutaneous swellings, regardless of the clinical setting. Helpful cytological clues are discussed.