Strongyloides stercoralis in a bronchial washing specimen processed as conventional and Thin-Prep smears: report of a case and a review of the literature.
Strongyloidiasis is an opportunistic infection which may result in a fatal hyperinfection syndrome in immunocompromised patients. We report the case of a pulmonary infection with Strongyloides stercoralis in a 61-year-old male with a history of a long-term administration of corticosteroids. Cytologic examination of a bronchial washing specimen, processed both as conventional and as Thin-Prep smears, revealed an abundance of the typical larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis, amidst a cellular population comprising several acute inflammatory cells as well as bronchial epithelial cells with features of basal cell hyperplasia or regenerative atypia. To the best of our knowledge there is only one previous report describing Strongyloides stercoralis in thin-layer smears, and there are no previous studies comparing its morphology in conventional and thin-layer preparations.
Grapsa
Dimitra
D
Cytopathology Department, LAIKO Athens General Hospital, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece. dimgrap@yahoo.gr
Petrakakou
Efthalia
E
Botsoli-Stergiou
Efi
E
Mikou
Panagiota
P
Athanassiadou
Pauline
P
Karkampasi
Athina
A
Ioakim-Liossi
Anna
A
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012185:Retroperitoneal Fibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D017171:Strongyloides stercoralis; D013322:Strongyloidiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology*
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones