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Touch cytology, a useful diagnostic method for diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal tract infections

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Abstract

Candida albicans, Campylobacter pylori,and Giardi lambliaare microorganisms that are frequently found in the upper gastrointestinal tract. A cytological smear of biopsies obtained at endoscopy was compared with the pathologic examination of biopsies. Candida albicanswas found in 55 patients, Campylobacter pyloriin 54, Giardia lambliain 31; cytology was positive in 43, 46, and 22 cases, respectively, and biopsy in 29, 43, and 22 cases. Cytology was thus the only positive test in 26 cases with Candida albicans(47% of the 55 cases), in 11 cases of Campylobacter pylori(20%), and in nine cases of Giardia lamblia(29%). We believe that the cytological smear of biopsies (touch cytology) is a quick and sensitive method for diagnosing infections of the upper gastrointestinal tract, increasing the diagnostic yield obtained by biopsy alone.

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Debongnie, J.C., Beyaert, C. & Legros, G. Touch cytology, a useful diagnostic method for diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal tract infections. Digest Dis Sci 34, 1025–1027 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01536368

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01536368

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