Lymphatic Filariasis Disseminating to the Upper Extremity
Figure 2
(a) Filariasis, lymphatic channel in perinodal adipose tissue. The lymphatic channel contains ensheathed helminthic structures consistent with an adult female Wuchereria bancrofti consisting of an external cuticle and a coelomic cavity containing paired ovaries and intestinal structures. The lymphatic channel shows perivascular fibrosis and contains within its both wall and lumen an inflammatory infiltrate composed primarily of lymphocytes and histiocytes. Eosinophils are rare, but individual cells cannot be discerned at this power. The inflammatory infiltrate and fibrous tissue extend into the perilymphatic adipose tissue (hematoxylin and eosin, ×25). (b) Wuchereria bancrofti. The external cuticle (C) appears focally striate, the muscle (M), intestine (I), and paired ovaries (O) are clearly visible, and the ovaries do not contain microfilariae, indicating a nongravid female (H&E, ×787, interference contrast with vertical image stacking).
