A case report of coexistence of microfilaria with anaplastic carcinoma of thyroid

Even in the 21st century, filariasis still remains one of the major health problems plaguing India. Filariasis usually presents as superficial swelling and lymphedema. It is uncommon for microfilaria to be seen during routine cytological examination. It is even rarer to find microfilaria coexisting with neoplastic lesions. Ninety-five percent of cases of lymphatic filariasis are caused by Wuchereria bancrofti and are rarely found in the thyroid gland. Here, we report a case of a 47-year-old male who presented with midline neck swelling, for which he underwent fine needle aspiration cytology which showed microfilaria coexisting with anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid gland.