Microfilariae in laryngeal and pharyngeal brushing smears from a case of carcinoma of the pharynx.

Microfilariae were observed in May-Grünwald-Giemsa-stained brushing smears of the laryngeal and pharyngeal areas in a 35-year-old man with carcinoma of the pharyngeal wall and marked laryngeal edema. Liberation of microfilariae due to lymphorrhexis following severe lymphedema was considered to be the mechanism for the infestation of these sites, which has not been previously reported.