[Cytomorphologic changes in bronchial epithelial cells in a patient exposed to an aerosol of the organophosphorus insecticide, Ekalux 25 (quinalphos), 0,0-diethyl-0-quinoxaline-2-phosphorothioate].

In this paper, the authors present cytomorphological changes of the bronchial epithelial cells in the patient who inhaled aerosol organophosphate insecticide "Ekalux 25" 0,0-diethyl-0-quinoxaline-2-il-phosphorothioate, while spraying crops, i.e. Colorado beetle. Our cytomorphologic examination of the sputum (obtained on the 13th and 15th day after the patient's exposure to the insecticide) revealed neutrophil granulocytes, degenerate changed macrophages, degenerate changed bronchial epithelial cells, squamous metaplasia with a poor number of lymphocytes and erythrocytes. Beside this, we also found atypical hypertropic cells of the bronchial epithelium (occurring in single forms or in groups) most of which appeared to be without cilia. Cytoplasm of those cells occurred to be not sharply bordered but poor and had a grey blue colour. Chromatin pattern of the nuclei was more coarse or "wiped", while nucleoli, as rule, appeared to be not discernible. There also occurred some nuclei in mitosis. The number of nuclei in those cells varies from one to several. Sputum specimens obtained later for cytologic analysis as well as bronchoscopic specimens, obtained on the 17th day after the patient's admission to the hospital, did not show any similar cytomorphologic changes. The authors of this paper think that it would be interesting to examine and follow-up the cytomorphologic specimens (bronchial secret, catheter bronchial aspirate smears, brushing and histopathologically) as early as the first days (if it is possible) of a patient's exposure to the organophosphate compounds.