Table of Contents
Definition / general | Case reports | Treatment | Microscopic (histologic) description | Microscopic (histologic) images | Additional referencesCite this page: Luca DC. Candida. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/bonemarrowcandida.html. Accessed January 22nd, 2021.
Definition / general
- Fungal infections are rare in bone marrow and peripheral blood and almost exclusively occur in immunocompromised individuals
- Candida albicans is one of the most common organisms
- It dominates among patients with liver, kidney or pancreas transplants
- Candida is also the most common fungal organism in immunocompetent patients with bone marrow granulomas
- Disseminated candidiasis may be seen in newborns and is frequent in children treated for leukemia
- Candida infection may promote granulopoiesis (Stem Cells Dev 2004;13:39)
Case reports
- 31 year old man with small intestine transplant and disseminated candidiasis developing during prophylaxis (Prog Transplant 2012;22:110)
- 76 year old woman with isolated bone marrow mycosis with consumptive symptoms (J Clin Pathol 2004;57:107)
Treatment
- Fluconazole, although resistance is emerging (J Antimicrob Chemother 2006;57:384)
Microscopic (histologic) description
- Typically shows granuloma formation with or without associated central necrosis
- In patients with underlying immunodeficiency, a diffuse histiocytic hyperplasia without distinct granuloma formation may be seen
- Organisms are readily identifiable with GMS and PAS
- In peripheral blood, fungal structures (budding yeasts, pseudohyphae) may be seen within granulocytes and monocytes or extracellularly