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Diagnostic value of conidia associated with pulmonary oxalosis: Evidence of an Aspergillus niger infection
Author(s) -
Procop Gary W.,
Johnston William W.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
diagnostic cytopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.417
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1097-0339
pISSN - 8755-1039
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0339(199710)17:4<292::aid-dc10>3.0.co;2-j
Subject(s) - conidium , medicine , bronchoalveolar lavage , aspergillus niger , aspergillosis , pathology , hypha , calcium oxalate , hyaline , lung , microbiology and biotechnology , calcium oxalate crystals , biology , botany , immunology , calcium , biochemistry
Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) material is commonly received in cytopathology for the exclusion of microorganisms. When crystalline material suggestive of calcium oxalate is present in the specimen, a search for fungal elements should be undertaken. Aspergillus niger is the hyaline mold associated with the presence of oxalate crystals. Commonly fragments of hyphae and occasionally entire conidiophores may be present in BAL specimens from patients with aspergillosis. We report a case of a patient with saprophytic colonization of a bullous/cavitary lesion. The BAL consisted of abundant acute inflammation, crystalline material suggestive of oxalate, and darkly pigmented conidia. Although an extensive search was undertaken, hyphal fragments could not be found. The suspicion of an A. niger infection was confirmed by culture. We believe that even in the absence of hyphal fragments, darkly pigmented, occasionally rough‐walled conidia are sufficient evidence to be highly suspicious of an A. niger infection in patients with pulmonary oxalosis. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1997;17:292–294. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.