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Rapid diagnosis of Penicillium marneffei infection by fine needle aspiration cytology

¹ Department of Pathology, National University Hospital, Singapore
² Department of Pathology, National University of Singapore
³ Department of Pathology, National University Hospital, Singapore

Correspondence to:
Dr D Lim
Department of Pathology, National University Hospital, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074; patv3{at}nus.edu.sg
ABSTRACT
This report describes the use of fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology to make a rapid diagnosis of Penicillium marneffei infection in an HIV positive patient. P marneffei is a thermally dimorphic fungus that is a mould at 25°C and a yeast at 37°C. It multiplies by fission. It can be easily mistaken for various other infections that are characterised by the presence of histiocytes with phagocytosed yeast cells. In smears the demonstration of yeast cells with a distinctive central septum confirms the diagnosis.

Abbreviations: FNA, fine needle aspiration

Keywords: Penicillium marneffei; cytology