Histologic findings and comparison with sputum smears in pulmonary aspiration of vegetable particles in syringomyelia: a case report.

Background: Pulmonary aspiration of vegetable matter may be a serious cause of lung damage, requiring, almost always, the help of a histopathologic examination.

Case: We report the case of a 55-year-old woman with a granulomatous pneumonitis due to repeated pulmonary aspiration of vegetable particles and affected by a syringomyelia. Histologic findings from a lobectomy section are shown and compared with those observed in different cytologic sputum samples.

Experimental method for isolating and identifying dust mites from sputum in pulmonary acariasis.

The aim of this study was to pilot a simpler and more effective method for identifying dust mites in sputum. Dust mites and their allergens have been implicated in respiratory diseases, including pulmonary acariasis, and several studies have identified mites in sputum. Further research is dependent on the development of a faster and simpler diagnostic test.

Worm-like artifacts in exfoliative cytology.

The presence of worms in cytological smears is occasionally reported, although various other structures exist that may be confused with such parasites. We present eight worm-like artifacts observed in routine Papanicolaou smears. Recognition of these structures is important to avoid overvaluation or confusion with true worms.

Freshwater microorganisms and other arthropods in Papanicolaou smears.

Several types of contaminants have been reported in cytopathology. The purpose of this study was to show unusual contaminants in cytological smears, such as freshwater microorganisms and other arthropods. In different routine Papanicolaou smears (sputum, cervicovaginal, and voided urine) we mainly found fragments of mites and insects, caused by an intrinsic contamination of the samples or an extrinsic contamination of the smears.

Airborne fungal spores, pollen grains, and vegetable cells in routine Papanicolaou smears.

The objective was to demonstrate the presence of airborne fungal spores, pollen grains, and vegetable cells in smears and establish their significance. Microscopic examination was of smears stained by the Papanicolaou technique. We found several types of airborne spores (Alternaria, Exserohilum, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Epicoccum, Curvularia, and Ascosmycete), pollen grains (Lilium, bullrush, Pinus, Acacia, hazelnut, and oak), and several types of vegetable cells.