Usefulness of Fungiflora Y to detect fungus in a frozen section of allergic mucin

Pathol Int. 2007 Sep;57(9):613-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1827.2007.02147.x.

Abstract

Allergic fungal sinusitis is a non-invasive disease characterized by pansinusitis with nasal polyps, with most causative agents being members of the dematiaceous fungi. Reported herein is the ninth Japanese case of allergic fungal sinusitis; an Alternaria species was culturally identified as the etiological agent. The present patient, a 32-year-old man, presented with multiple sinusitis and nasal polyps. Allergic mucin, which is a histological hallmark of this disease, was examined intraoperatively on frozen section. Although characteristic histology, including laminated masses of mucin and aggregates of eosinophils, was seen in HE-stained sections, fungal hyphae were scarce and recognized merely as clear spaces. Because fluorescent stilbene derivatives seem useful for the rapid detection of fungi, Fungiflora Y, a commercially available staining kit that includes a fluorescent stilbene derivative, was applied to the sections, and hyphae were successfully visualized using a fluorescence microscope. This stain takes only several minutes to perform. It is concluded that Fungiflora Y should be used when fungal elements are hard to find on HE stain, especially in cases in which rapid detection of fungus is requested.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alternaria / chemistry
  • Alternaria / isolation & purification*
  • Fluorescent Dyes / analysis*
  • Frozen Sections
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mucins / chemistry*
  • Mycoses / diagnosis*
  • Mycoses / microbiology
  • Organic Chemicals / analysis
  • Paranasal Sinuses / metabolism
  • Paranasal Sinuses / microbiology
  • Paranasal Sinuses / pathology
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
  • Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / diagnosis*
  • Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / microbiology
  • Sinusitis / diagnosis*
  • Sinusitis / microbiology
  • Staining and Labeling

Substances

  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Fungiflora Y
  • Mucins
  • Organic Chemicals
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic