The Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing: Vegetable and Fruit Particles Mimicking Cells and Microorganisms in Cytology Specimens

Background: Microorganisms and contaminants, including food contaminants, can be difficult to distinguish in various cytologic specimens. Vegetable and fruit contaminants can be found in specimens from the gastrointestinal tract, as in anal Pap smears, or aspirated into the respiratory tract, as in bronchiolar-alveolar lavage. Some of these materials mimic microorganisms, normal human cells, and even malignant cells, making correct diagnosis of the cytology specimen a challenge. A catalogue of the cytologic appearance of these contaminants will increase awareness of these diagnostic stumbling blocks.