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Cytologic v Potassium Hydroxide Preparations

Michael A. Warlick, MD; Stuart F. Quan, MD; Richard E. Sobonya, MD

Arch Intern Med. 1983;143(4):723-725.

Abstract
• In 26 patients with culture-proved pulmonary coccidioidomycosis, cytologic preparations of respiratory secretions were significantly more sensitive (38.5%) than potassium hydroxide (KOH) preparations (15.4%) in identifying spherules of Coccidioides immitis. Those patients able to produce sputum or having multiple-lobe pneumonitis on chest roentgenogram appeared to be more likely to have spherules identified in the sputum by either technique. In the absence of sputum production or multiple-lobe pneumonitis, neither cytologic nor KOH preparations were likely to disclose spherules. Because of its greater sensitivity, a cytologic preparation should be examined in addition to a KOH preparation when pulmonary coccidioidomycosis is a clinical consideration.

(Arch Intern Med 1983;143:723-725)

Author Affiliations
From the Departments of Internal Medicine (Drs Warlick and Quan) and Pathology (Dr Sobonya), and the Division of Respiratory Sciences (Drs Quan, Warlick, and Sobonya), University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Jan 3, 1983.

Read in part before the annual Arizona regional meeting of the American College of Physicians, Tucson, Nov 14, 1981.

Reprint requests to Division of Respiratory Sciences, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ 85724 (Dr Quan).

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