blastomycosis
Histologic Features
- Blastomyces spores are demonstrated within histiocytes by the Methenamine silver stain
- Pseudocarcinomatous hyperplasia of the epidermis with intraepidermal microabscesses
- A dense diffuse dermal infiltrate consisting primarily of histiocytes that make a partial attempt to form granulomas surrounded by scattered lymphocytes
- Multiple foci of collagen degeneration with neutrophils and large amounts of nuclear dust
- Spores of blastomyces found free in the abscess or within giant histiocytes, as 8-10 micron thick-walled yeast forms within punched-out spaces in the cytoplasm of the giant cells
Updated Wednesday, July 31, 2013 8:30:48 PM