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Case Reports
. 2023 Aug 28;15(8):e44257.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.44257. eCollection 2023 Aug.

Cytological Diagnosis Suggesting Candidal Infection of the Nasolacrimal Duct in an Uncontrolled Diabetic Patient With Gingival Abscess

Veda Samhitha Ns  1 , Priyathersini N  1 , Barathi Gunabooshanam  1 , Ponneyinchelvi As  1 , Prasanna Kumar S  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Cytological Diagnosis Suggesting Candidal Infection of the Nasolacrimal Duct in an Uncontrolled Diabetic Patient With Gingival Abscess

Veda Samhitha Ns et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

In this unique cytology case of a 64-year-old diabetic male who presented with left-sided facial swelling between the ala and lateral canthus of the left eye, conventional fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was done. FNAC of the swelling showed desquamated epithelial cells from the nasolacrimal duct and abundant proteinaceous material admixed with fungal organisms like that of budding yeast forms, morphologically resembling Candida on May-Grunwald-Giemsa stain. Special stain with periodic acid-Schiff revealed positivity for budding yeast forms. In this case report, we discuss the causes and clinical effects of nasolacrimal duct obstruction, cytological diagnostic features, and microscopic recognition of fungal organisms on routine staining as well as on special fungal stains.

Keywords: budding yeast; candida; cytology; dacryostenosis; fine needle aspiration cytology (fnac); fungal organisms; nasolacrimal duct; nasolacrimal duct obstruction; pando; sando.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. A swelling of size 4 x 3 cm noted above the tip of ala (white square)
Figure 2
Figure 2. Clusters of mature squamous epithelial cells from nasolacrimal duct with bland nuclear features (fine-needle aspiration cytology, H&E stain 10x magnification)
Figure 3
Figure 3. Fungal budding yeast forms that morphologically resemble Candida (fine-needle aspiration cytology, May-Grunwald-Giemsa stain, 40x magnification)
Figure 4
Figure 4. Budding fungal yeast forms resembling Candida (fine-needle aspiration cytology, periodic acid-Schiff stain, 40x magnification)
Figure 5
Figure 5. Fungal yeast forms admixed with abundant proteinaceous secretions from the nasolacrimal duct (fine-needle aspiration cytology, periodic acid-Schiff stain, 40x magnification)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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