Discrepancy between histology and culture in filamentous fungal infections.
Although the incidence of non-Aspergillus filamentous fungal infections has increased, there is little data regarding the correlation between the results of histologic analysis and those of microbiologic culture in clinical practice. We investigated the results of fungal cultures inoculated with tissue specimens that had been found to have fungal hyphae on histologic examination at a university-affiliated tertiary care hospital. Culture studies were requested for microbiologic diagnosis for 122 (31%) of 393 patients with histologic evidence of the presence of filamentous fungal infections. In 53 (43.4%) out of the 122 specimen, fungi were recovered and identified. In 9 (17%) out of the 53 cases, the histology and culture results were discordant. These data serve to remind physicians of the need for obtaining fungus cultures in these types of cases.
Lee
Shinwon
S
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 28 Yeongun-dong, Chongro-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Yun
Na Ra
NR
Kim
Kye-Hyung
KH
Jeon
Jae Hyun
JH
Kim
Eui-Chong
EC
Chung
Doo Hyun
DH
Park
Wan Beom
WB
Oh
Myoung-Don
MD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009172:Mycology / Q000379:methods; D009181:Mycoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult