Role of gastric brush cytology in the diagnosis of giardiasis

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> Giardiasis, common in developing countries, has mostly nonspecific clinical symptoms, resulting in a limited role for preliminary tests. <br><b> Aims:</b> The present study aims to highlight the utility of endoscopic brush cytology (EBC) in the diagnosis of giardiasis in clinically unsuspected cases. <br><b> Materials and Methods:</b> Endoscopic brush smears (EBS) are routinely obtained in all patients presenting with gastric symptoms.<b> </b> The present study is a retrospective analysis of EBS, consisting of 12 cases whose smears had revealed trophozoites of <i> Giardia lamblia</i> . Biopsy correlation was available in five cases.<br><b> Results:</b> The patients ranged in age from 15 to 78 years (mean age: 34.08 years) with a 1:1 sex ratio. Stool examination in all 12 cases yielded negative results for giardiasis. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was normal in all these cases. EBS from these cases revealed <i> Giardia</i> trophozoites, which were identified by their typical morphology.<br><b> Conclusions:</b> Endoscopic brush cytology can be used as a reliable screening tool in the diagnosis of gastro-duodenal giardiasis in clinically unsuspected cases, especially in developing countries where parasitic infections are common.