Diagnosis of spongiotic vesicular dermatitis by Tzanck smear: the "tadpole cell".
Cells with a "tadpole-like" shape were found in 80% of Tzanck smears from patients with spongiotic vesicular dermatitis. A variety of other vesicobullous disorders did not show these cells. The presence of such cells is a reliable, readily available marker of diseases having spongiotic blisters.
D001768:Blister / Q000473:pathology; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000175:diagnosis; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D012872:Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000175:diagnosis