Cytological diagnosis of actinomycosis and eumycetoma: A report of two cases

Abstract

Mycetoma and actinomycosis are common in tropical countries and are increasingly diagnosed in other parts of the world due to rapid mobilization of the population. They are usually diagnosed on histopathology. There is very limited data on the role of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in diagnosing these lesions. We report here two cases: one of eumycetoma and the other of an actinomycosis that were reliably diagnosed with FNAC. The cytological features were similar to histopathology features and differentiated eumycetoma and actinomycosis. FNAC is a rapid, simple and inexpensive outpatient procedure that helps in rapid diagnosis.

Cytodiagnosis of Primary Actinomycotic Mycetoma of The Foot: A Case Report

“…However, the data are limited on the role of FNAC in diagnosing these lesions [9]. The cytological features were similar to histopatholoical features and differentiated eumycetoma and actinomycosis easily on FNAC [9]. On cytology, in actinomycetoma showed inflammatory exudates along with large colonies of filamentous bacilli (Gram-positive) with foreign body giant cells, as in our case.…”

“…The distinction between eumycetoma and actinomycetoma in FNAC is as accurate as histopathology [8]. However, the data are limited on the role of FNAC in diagnosing these lesions [9]. The cytological features were similar to histopatholoical features and differentiated eumycetoma and actinomycosis easily on FNAC [9].…”

Primary Actinomycosis of the Breast Masquerading as Malignancy: Diagnosis by Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology

“…Being a non-traumatic and accurate diagnostic procedure, a diagnosis can be reached at an early stage and unnecessary major surgery can be avoided. Cytological diagnosis is a quick, easy, and cost-effective outpatient procedure which is easily acceptable for the patients [5]. Our case report suggests that primary actinomycosis can be reliably diagnosed by FNAC, and malignancy can be excluded.…”

Splendore‐Hoeppli phenomenon in a fine needle aspirate of cervicofacial actinomycosis

“…The SHP has been described in cell block sections and rarely also in smears from bronchial and bile duct brushings or washings, fine needle aspirates from subcutaneous breast, lung and liver masses, in patients suffering from botryomycosis, actinomycosis, actinomycetoma and eumycetoma, sporotrichosis and blastomycosis…”

“…Infections characterized by the presence of "granules" may be surrounded by an accumulation of brightly eosinophilic material. This is referred to as the Splendore-Hoeppli phenomenon (SHP), and can The SHP has been described in cell block sections and rarely also in smears 9 from bronchial and bile duct brushings or washings, fine needle aspirates from subcutaneous breast, lung and liver masses, in patients suffering from botryomycosis, 10 actinomycosis, 11,12 actinomycetoma 13,14 and eumycetoma, 14 sporotrichosis 15 and blastomycosis. 16 The importance of the identification of the SHP is primarily to draw attention to the eliciting infectious agent, 9 and, in correlation with clinical and microbiology studies, lead to the appropriate diagnosis and treatment.…”