Lung, Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia [LMP62282]

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Diagnostic Modality: 
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Disease Category: 
Infectious Diseases
Diagnosis: 
Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia
Species: 
Human
Organ System: 
Lung
Gender: 
Male
Age: 
30 years
Diagnosis Code: 
ICD-10: J17.3
Slide Contributor Information
Duan, K., Lu, F.

Keywords

Pneumocystis pneumonia, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, fungal, fungus, protozoa, immunocompromised, jiroveci

Clinical Discussion

Pneumocystis jerovecii is a eukaryotic microorganism that is the human-specific counterpart of Pneumocystis carinii (which is found in a wide range of animals). Previously thought to be protozoan, it is now classified as a yeast-like fungus. In humans, it represents an important opportunistic pulmonary infection with significant morbidity and mortality in immunosuppressed patients. Morphologically, the affected lung tissue typically shows characteristic intra-alveolar foamy exudate with interstitial lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate and occasional intra-alveolar fibrous bodies. GMS stain is often helpful and quite effective in highlighting cyst forms of the organisms.

See Related Content for references:

1) An T, Tabaczka P. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2004;128(3):363-364.
2) Wazir JF, Ansari NA. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2004;128(9):1023-7.

Related Content

Related External Links: 
An T, Tabaczka P. The use of polarization microscopy in the diagnosis of pneumocystis pneumonia. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2004;12...
Wazir JF, Ansari NA. Pneumocystis carinii infection. Update and review. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2004;128(9):1023-7.