Pneumocystis carinii pneumonitis. The nature and diagnostic significance of the methenamine silver-positive intracystic bodies. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1986. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Pneumocystis carinii pneumonitis. The nature and diagnostic significance of the methenamine silver-positive intracystic bodies.

Am J Surg Pathol. 1985 Oct;9(10):744-51. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/86048326
Watts JC; Chandler FW

Abstract: The cyst forms of Pneumocystis carinii in specimens stained with methenamine silver contain single or paired discrete foci of enhanced staining that measure 1-2 micron in maximum size. The nature of these foci and their location within the cysts have been disputed. We demonstrate by electron microscopy of silver-stained sections that the darkly stained foci correspond to a focal thickening of the cyst wall and are unrelated to sporozoites and other intracystic organelles. The morphology of these structures by light microscopy is characteristic, and their recognition is helpful in identifying P. carinii cysts and in differentiating them from yeast-form fungi and argyrophilic tissue elements in histologic sections and cytology specimens.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/COMPLICATIONS Adult Animal Child Human Lung/*PATHOLOGY/PARASITOLOGY Male Methenamine/*DIAGNOSTIC USE Microscopy, Electron/METHODS Pneumocystis carinii/ULTRASTRUCTURE Pneumonia, Pneumocystis carinii/DIAGNOSIS/*PATHOLOGY/PARASITOLOGY Rats Rats, Inbred Strains Silver/DIAGNOSTIC USE Stains and Staining/METHODS JOURNAL ARTICLE

KWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/complicationsadultanimalchildhumanlung/KWDpathology/parasitologymalemethenamine/KWDdiagnosticusemicroscopy,electron/methodspneumocystiscarinii/ultrastructurepneumonia,pneumocystiscarinii/diagnosis/KWDpathology/parasitologyratsrats,inbredstrainssilver/diagnosticusestainsandstaining/methodsjournalarticle
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M8620136

Copyright © 1986 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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