Fine-needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of cysticercosis presenting as palpable nodules

The cytologic findings in the fine-needle aspirate of 30 cases of cysticercosis presenting as palpable nodules are described. Essential for a diagnosis are identification of parasitic fragments. These include bluish fibrillary structures sometimes with honeycombing, tegument of parasite thrown into rounded wavy folds, and scolex with hooklets and hyaline membrane surrounding it. The inflammatory reaction consisted of eosinophils, neutrophils, lymphocytes, histiocytes, epithelioid cells, and giant cells in varying proportions.