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Cytomorphology of Mycobacterium avium intracellulare‐associated ascites
Author(s) -
Satturwar Swati,
Pantanowitz Liron,
Xing Juan,
Schoedel Karen,
Weber David,
Monaco Sara E.
Publication year - 2020
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/dc.24532
Subject(s) - medicine , ascites , chylous ascites , ascitic fluid , cytology , differential diagnosis , pathology , mycobacterium , peritoneal fluid , histiocyte , population , biopsy , immunology , tuberculosis , gastroenterology , environmental health
Ascites due to Mycobacterium avium intracellulare (MAI) infection is extremely rare and associated with a poor outcome. The cytomorphology of this condition has not been previously reported. We present a unique case of a 45‐year‐old woman with iatrogenic immunodeficiency who developed MAI‐associated chylous ascites. The ascitic fluid cytology showed numerous lymphocytes and foamy histiocytes with abundant intracytoplasmic MAI organisms. The diagnosis was confirmed by tissue biopsy showing MAI mesenteritis. It is important to consider MAI‐associated ascites in the differential diagnosis whenever ascitic fluid shows a predominant population of lymphocytes and macrophages, especially in immunocompromised patients.