Identification of Blastocystis hominis by colonic brush cytology. A case report

Acta Cytol. 1992 Sep-Oct;36(5):757-8.

Abstract

Blastocystis hominis is a unicellular organism the pathogenic potential of which in humans remains unclear. It may be identified during a workup for gastrointestinal symptoms, usually in stool examined for ova and parasites. We describe a case in which B hominis was identified by cytologic examination in a patient with Crohn's disease who underwent colonoscopy and brushing of a transverse colon stricture. The morphologic features of this organism are described and contrasted with those of the uninucleate cyst form of Entamoeba histolytica.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Blastocystis Infections / diagnosis*
  • Blastocystis Infections / pathology
  • Blastocystis hominis / isolation & purification*
  • Colonic Diseases / parasitology*
  • Colonic Diseases / pathology
  • Crohn Disease / parasitology
  • Crohn Disease / pathology
  • Cytodiagnosis / methods
  • Female
  • Humans