[Pathologic diagnosis of specific infections in upper aerodigestive tract].
OBJECTIVE
To find a fast and simple method for detection of specific pathogens in upper aerodigestive tract.


METHODS
Sixty-one cases of specific infections in upper aerodigestive tract encountered during a 10-year period in Beijing Tongren Hospital were retrospectively studied. Six histochemical stains, including PAS, Giemsa, Gram, methylene blue, modified Warthin-Starry and acid-fast stains were applied. The morphology of different pathogens was studied and the staining patterns were compared.


RESULTS
There were 23 cases of pharyngeal treponemal infection, 10 cases of short treponemal infection, 4 cases of mycobacterial infection, 4 cases of infection by rhinoscleroma bacilli, 1 case of sinonasal fungal infection, 1 case of combined infection of bacteria and Oidium albicans, 2 cases of tonsillar Actinomycetes and 16 cases of non-specific bacterial infections. Both pharyngeal treponemal infection and infection by rhinoscleroma bacilli could be detected by modified Warthin-Starry stain. As for sinonasal fungal infection, PAS, Giemsa and modified Warthin-Starry stains were useful in differentiating different types of fungi. Mycobacteria were best demonstrated by conventional acid-fast stain.


CONCLUSIONS
Special histochemical stains performed on histologic sections are useful for diagnosing specific infections in upper aerodigestive tract.
Department of Pathology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital University of Medical Science, Beijing 100730, China.
Cheng
C
Tian
Hong-Gang
HG
Liu
Yu-Lan
YL
Jin
Sheng-Zhong
SZ
Zhang
D000196:Actinomycosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012226:Rhinoscleroma / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014208:Treponema / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014211:Treponemal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult