Case #448 – July, 2017

A lung biopsy was obtained on a 29-year-old-patient from Cameroon with cough, dyspnea, and hemoptysis. Figures A–D show what was observed on a hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) stained section; Figure A is at 200x, Figure B 400x, and Figures C and D at 1000x magnification. What is your diagnosis? Based on what criteria?

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

Figure D

This was a case of ascariasis based on the presence of migrating larvae. Diagnostic morphologic features shown in the images included:

Prominent alae.
Large excretory canals.
Coelomyarian muscle structure.
Intestine lined with microvilli.

For more information on: ascariasis

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