Varicella-zoster infection with pleural involvement. A cytologic and ultrastructural study of a case.
Cytologic evidence of herpes viral infection within cells from body cavity effusions is extremely uncommon. The authors report the case of a 57-year-old woman who was treated with chemotherapy and irradiation for malignant lymphoma and subsequently developed disseminated varicella-zoster infection with pleural involvement. Cytologic examination of pleural fluid revealed cytopathic changes caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which were confirmed by electron microscopy and viral culture of the effusion. The cytologic and ultrastructural features of the virus-infected cells are described, and the pathogenesis of the effusion and sequence of events in varicella-zoster virus-cell interaction are discussed.
D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*