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crystals with the Maltese cross configuration

Friday 9 January 2015

Etiology

- talc granulomatosis

Synopsis

- polarizing microscopy reveals strongly birefringent material of varying shapes and sizes, including anisotropic crystals with the Maltese cross configuration characteristic of starch.

References

- Fine needle aspiration cytology of talc granulomatosis in a peripheral lymph node in a case of suspected intravenous drug abuse. Housini I, Dabbs DJ, Coyne L. Acta Cytol. 1990 May-Jun;34(3):342-4. PMID: 2343689