Williamson J D, Silverman J F, Mallak C T, Christie J D
Department of Pathology, East Carolina University School of Medicine, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Acta Cytol. 1996 Mar-Apr;40(2):363-70. doi: 10.1159/000333769.
Cryptococcus neoformans is not generally recognized as producing pseudohyphae. Although atypical morphologic forms have been described in the microbiology literature, we believe this is the first complete cytologic report describing this uncommon and unusual cytologic appearance of cryptococcal infection.
In five cases of cryptococcal infection, C neoformans formed chains of budding yeasts, pseudohyphae and germ tube-like structures. The atypical forms of C neoformans were seen in cerebrospinal fluid, imprints and in histopathologic sections from multiple organs from two human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients; in pleural fluid from a patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; in crush smears from a stereotactic biopsy of the brain; and in a fine needle aspirate of a lung nodule in two patients with no known risk factors for HIV infection.
Recognition of atypical cytomorphologic variants of C neoformans is important since there are potential diagnostic pitfalls for confusing these atypical-appearing organisms with a Candida-type species or fungal contaminants. Special stains for capsular material and culture can be helpful in making a correct diagnosis.
新型隐球菌通常不被认为会产生假菌丝。尽管微生物学文献中描述过非典型形态，但我们认为这是第一份完整的细胞学报告，描述了这种罕见且不寻常的新型隐球菌感染的细胞学表现。
在5例新型隐球菌感染病例中，新型隐球菌形成了出芽酵母、假菌丝和芽管样结构的链状结构。新型隐球菌的非典型形态见于两名人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV）阳性患者多个器官的脑脊液、印片和组织病理学切片中；见于一名非霍奇金淋巴瘤患者的胸腔积液中；见于脑立体定向活检的压片涂片中；以及见于两名无已知HIV感染风险因素患者的肺结节细针穿刺物中。
认识新型隐球菌的非典型细胞形态变异很重要，因为将这些形态不典型的生物体与念珠菌属物种或真菌污染物混淆存在潜在的诊断陷阱。荚膜物质的特殊染色和培养有助于做出正确诊断。
