The Journal of the Japanese Society of Clinical Cytology
Online ISSN : 1882-7233
Print ISSN : 0387-1193
ISSN-L : 0387-1193
Clinical Articles
Cytology of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid can aid in the diagnosis of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
—A case study—
Ayaka KOBAYASHIMasatomo KIMURAKiyofumi UEDAChikoto TANAKAEisuke ENOKITakaaki CHIKUGOTadao UESUGITakao SATOU
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2016 Volume 55 Issue 6 Pages 401-405

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Abstract

Background : Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is caused by type-Ⅰ and type-Ⅲ hypersensitivity reactions to bronchial-colonizing Aspergillus. Usually, the diagnosis of ABPA is established based on clinical, serologic, and radiologic criteria. Cytology of bronchial fluid specimens, such as bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), is not commonly performed in ABPA patients. We report a case of ABPA with the characteristic cytologic features of BALF.

Case : A 79-year-old female patient came to our hospital because of an asthma attack. She was diagnosed as having ABPA on the basis of the Rosenberg-Patterson criteria. Cytology of BALF showed mucus with aggregates of eosinophils, Charcot-Leyden crystals, and scattered septate hyphae that branched dichotomously. BALF culture grew Aspergillus sp.

Conclusion : ABPA should be included in the differential diagnosis if mucus with aggregates of eosinophils and septate hyphae showing dichotomous branching are found on cytologic examination of bronchial fluid specimens.

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© 2016 The Japanese Society of Clinical Cytology
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