Pulmonary aspergillosis

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  Aspergillus hyhae seen faintly in the Papanicolaou stained of levage fluid.
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  Cytological findings in bronchial lavage material include necrotic and inflammatory debris with fragments of fungal hyphae.
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  Liquid-based cytology preparation stained using the Papanicolaou stain
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  Aspergillus hyphae stained with Grocott´s method.
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  Aspergillus hyphae found in bronchial lavage fluid Grocott´s methenamine silver.
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  Narrow septate hyphae showing dichotomous branching into two equal divisions at a regular angle of 45º are typical of this organism.
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  Aspergillus hyphae in brochial lavage fluid. The hyphae are septate with dichotomous branching. M G G stain.
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  Compared to Candida the hyphae of Aspergillus are thiker and show true septation and 45º acute angle branching. Papanicolaou stain
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  Compared to Candida the hyphae of Aspergillus are thiker and show true septation and 45º acute angle branching. Papanicolaou stain
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  Aspergillus hyphae in brochial lavage fluid. The hyphae are septate with dichotomous branching. Papanicolaou stain.
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  Oxalate crystals in bronchial lavage fluid.
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  Identification of oxalate crystals in the cytologic specimens may be the first clue to the presence of Aspergillus.

Fungi of the Aspergillus gene are World-wide in distribution and are present in soil and atmosphere.
There are about 600 species of Asperguillus organisms, but fewer than 10 are pathogenic to humans.
Of these A. fumigatus is the most common, A niger and A. flavus being much less frequent pathogens. The different species cannot be distinguished by morphology alone.
Aspergillus are responsible for several different forms of illness.
Pulmonary aspergillosis is acquired through the inhalation of the organism´s airbone spores. These spores are quite small, measuring less than 4μm in diameter, and are capable of reaching the most peripheral parts of the lungs.
The most characteristics presentation of the organism is that of thick, uniform, septate hyphae 3-6μm in width with 45ºangle.
A 56-year-old man developed pulmonary aspergillosis. Images from this case.