Fine needle aspiration cytology of peripheral lymph node cryptococcosis. A report of three cases.

Aspiration cytology of lymph nodes allows rapid diagnosis of disseminated cryptococcosis. Three cases of lymph node cryptococcosis diagnosed by aspiration cytology in three patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome are presented. The organisms were easily seen with a routine modified Wright and Papanicolaou stain as variably sized yeasts, 5-15 microns in greatest diameter, with thick capsules. Many of the organisms showed narrow base budding. In one case occasional pseudohyphae were observed. The diagnoses were confirmed easily with mucicarmine stain.