Unusual microbial organisms seen in two cervical smears

Diagn Cytopathol. 2009 Nov;37(11):836-8. doi: 10.1002/dc.21114.

Abstract

Very infrequently, unusual microbial organisms are encountered in routine cervical Pap tests. We herein report two such cases in two asymptomatic women. Case 1. A Pap smear of a 16-year-old-female showed rare glandular cells with cytologic features consistent with Cytomegalovirus infection. Case 2. A Pap smear of a 36-year-old female exhibited rare fungal organisms characterized by thin septate hyphae branching into secondary branches (metulae) which carried multiple flask-shaped philiades most consistent with Penicillium species that were "most likely representing contamination." We discuss the cytomorphological features and the differential diagnosis and provide a brief review of the literature on these topics.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cytomegalovirus
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / pathology*
  • Equipment Contamination*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Papanicolaou Test*
  • Penicillium
  • Vaginal Diseases / microbiology*
  • Vaginal Smears*