Korean J Cytopathol.  1995 Dec;6(2):169-173.

Pulmonary Nocardiosis Diagnosed by Fine Needle Aspiration: A Case Report

• Yim H
• Park KH

Abstract

Nocardia, aerobic members of the order of Actinomycetaceae, produces infections in human lung. Nocardial infection is associated with underlying diseases of immuno-suppression or treatment with corticosteroid. It is difficult to detect Nocardia by sputum examination or histologic sections and it has rarely been diagnosed by fine needle aspiration of the lung. We describe a case of pulmonary nocardiosis in a 72 year-old man. diagnosed by fine needle aspiration, which was confirmed by culture of aspirates. The aspirates showed neutrophil-predominant inflammatory cells with microoganisms demonstrated by Gomori methenamine silver and Gram stain. The organisms had characteristic long branching filamentous strucutres. The lesions on chest x-ray were in resolution with antimicrobial therapy.

Keyword

Nocardia; Lung; Fine needle aspiration cytology

MeSH Terms

Actinomycetaceae
Aged
Biopsy, Fine-Needle*
Humans
Lung
Methenamine
Nocardia
Nocardia Infections*
Sputum
Thorax
Methenamine