Diagnosis of spongiotic vesicular dermatitis by Tzanck smear: the "tadpole cell"

Cells with a "tadpole-like" shape were found in 80% of Tzanck smears from patients with spongiotic vesicular dermatitis. A variety of other vesicobullous disorders did not show these cells. The presence of such cells is a reliable, readily available marker of diseases having spongiotic blisters.