December, 2005

Case 169:
A 28-year-old man complained of gastrointestinal pain and bloating.  At the request of his health care provider, he submitted a fecal specimen preserved in low viscosity polyvinyl alcohol (LV-PVA).  A trichrome stained smear was made from some of the specimen.  Figure A shows an object, measuring 10 to 12 micrometers at its greatest diameter, that was seen in low numbers on the slide.  What is your diagnosis?  Based on what criteria?

A

Click here for the answer to Case 169.

Case 170:
A lab worker discovered an unlabeled box of 20 pathology slides, which appeared to be stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H & E).  The slides were examined to determine what was on them.  Figure A shows what was seen on one of the slides at 200× magnification.  What is your identification?  Based on what criteria?

A

Click here for the answer to Case 170.

Images presented in the monthly case studies are from specimens submitted for diagnosis or archiving.  On rare occasions, clinical histories given may be partly fictitious.