Introduction

Ulceration and diphtheritic pseudomembrane

An adjacent area shows typical responses of injured upper airway mucosa. Squamous metaplasia, cilial loss, goblet cell hyperplasia, and inflammation.

Detail of diphtheritic pseudomembrane: ulcerated mucosa and a tenacious fibrino-purulent exudate.

Superficial infection of the exudate with Aspergillus. Mycelia (arrowheads) sometimes only can be detected as ghost outlines (left) or as branched basophilic tubes (right)

Fruiting bodies (arrowheads) on the surface of the exudate are diagnostic for Aspergillus.

Another example of diphtheritic pseudomembranous disease:

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Cases

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