Pseudo-Gaucher cells in mycobacterial infection: a report of two cases

J Clin Pathol. 2005 Oct;58(10):1113-4. doi: 10.1136/jcp.2004.018176.

Abstract

This report describes two cases of mycobacterial infection with pseudo-Gaucher cells. Both patients had no clinical evidence of inherited Gaucher disease. The first case was a patient with AIDS and Mycobacterium avium intracellulare involving the lung, spleen, and bone marrow. The bone marrow aspirates showed many histiocytes with needle-like inclusions. Acid fast staining showed that these histiocytes contained acid fast bacilli. Bone marrow biopsies revealed granulomatous lesions with aggregates of foamy histiocytes. The second case was an alcoholic patient with Mycobacteriumkanasassi infection involving the lung and lymph nodes. The lymph node aspirates showed infiltration of the same cells with acid fast bacilli in the cytoplasm.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / pathology
  • Adult
  • Alcoholism / complications
  • Gaucher Disease / complications
  • Histiocytes / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / complications
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / pathology*
  • Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection / complications
  • Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection / pathology
  • Opportunistic Infections / complications
  • Opportunistic Infections / pathology*