Cytologic diagnosis of adenovirus bronchopneumonia

The recognition of adenovirus-induced cytopathic changes in tracheal aspirates of two 7-month-old infants is reported. The smears showed cells containing nuclear inclusions with radiated strands ("rosette" cells), large homogeneously-staining nuclei ("smudge" cells) and nuclei with a "honeycomb" appearance. These findings appear to be distinctive for bronchopulmonary adenovirus infection, suggesting that the cytologic examination of tracheal aspirates may be a simple and cost-saving method for making an accurate diagnosis of this disease.