Filariasis of the breast---a rare case report from endemic eastern U.P. (India) with review of literature

Parasites in the human breast are uncommon but not rare. Hydatid cyst in breast is very rare. Others like cystecercosis, schistosomiasis and filariasis have been documented in the breast though uncommon and their cytomorphology is well characterized. Filariasis caused by wuchereriabancrofti , brugia malayi and brugia timori affect the lymphatic system with a predilection for lower limb , retroperitoneal tissue , spermatic cord and epididymis. Breast , thyroid , body fluids and skin are unusual sites for it , thus making extranodal filariasis a rare entity. I hereby present a young female from a nonendemic area, with a painful lesion in right breast with enlarged right axillary lymph node and fever. Fine needle aspiration cytology revealed microfilaria of Bancrofti and the diagnosis was given as Filariasis of right breast. Many times it is mistaken for an inflammatory carcinoma clinically.We would like to emphasize that the differential diagnosis of filarial granuloma should be considered in the above mentioned clinical settings in endemic and non-endemic areas as well.