Korean J Pathol.  2011 Feb;45(1):115-118.

Immunohistochemical Identification of Pneumocystis jirovecii in Liquid-based Cytology of Bronchoalveolar Lavage: Nine Cases Report

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Pathology, Korea University Medical College, Seoul, Korea. iskim@korea.ac.kr

Abstract

Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is caused by the yeast-like fungus Pneumocystis jirovecii, which is specific to humans. PCP could be a source of opportunistic infection in adults that are immunosuppressed and children with prematurity or malnutrition. The diagnosis should be confirmed by identification of the causative organism, by analysis of the sputum, a bronchoalveolar lavage or a tissue biopsy. In both histologic and cytologic specimens, the cysts are contained within frothy exudates, which form aggregated clumps. The cysts often collapse forming crescent-shaped bodies that resemble ping-pong balls. We recently diagnosed nine cases of PCP using an immunohistochemical stain for Pneumocystis. The patients consisted of five human immunodeficiency virus positive individuals, two renal transplant recipients, and two patients with a malignant disease. All nine patients were infected with P. jirovecii, which was positive for monoclonal antibody 3F6. In conclusion, the immunohistochemical stain used in this report is a new technique for the detection of P. jirovecii infection.

Keyword

Pneumocystis jirovecii; Bronchoalveolar lavage; Immunohistochemistry

MeSH Terms

Adult
Biopsy
Bronchoalveolar Lavage
Child
Exudates and Transudates
Fungi
HIV
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Malnutrition
Opportunistic Infections
Pneumocystis
Pneumocystis jirovecii
Pneumonia, Pneumocystis
Sputum
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