Science Publications

OBJECTIVE: To describe new cytologic clues to diagnose localized leishmanialymphadenitis (LLL). STUDY DESIGN: The study examined cytologic smears of 170 cases of LLL referredto our department from November 1989 to October 2004. A total of 120 cases were confirmed bydetecting Leishman-Donovan (LD) bodies in at least 1 of the cytologic smears and 50 cases, whichwere histologically confirmed. For comparison we studied cytologic smears of 20 cases of tuberculouslymphadenitis, 20 cases of toxoplasma lymphadenitis and 20 cases of granulomatous lymphadenitis ofunspecified causes. RESULTS: Cases were divided into 4 major groups. Cytologic findings in thesegroups were studied to find highly suggestive clues. Cytologic findings present in most of thesegroups, but absent or very rare in other granulomatous lymphadenitis, were LD kinetoplasts, plasmacells with different shapes of inclusions and lymphogranular bodies. Rare findings not reportedpreviously were: intraneutrophilic LD bodies, hematoxylin body-like inclusions, fibroblasts,cytoplasmic blebbing and floating parasitophorous vacuoles. CONCLUSION: Despite previous reportsemphasizing detecting LD bodies in diagnosing LLL, we present cytologic clues highly suggestive ofthis self-limited disease when LD bodies cannot be detected or are very few on the smears.

Daneshbod,Y　Daneshbod,K　Khademi,B　Negahban,S　Bedayat,GR
Department of Cytopathology and Hematopathology, Dr. Daneshbod PathologyLaboratory, Shiraz School of Medicine, Shiraz, Iran. daneshbk@yahoo.com

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