Curschmann's spirals

Curschmann's spiral

Curschmann's spirals refers to a finding in the sputum of asthmatics which are spiral shaped mucus plugs from subepithelial mucous gland ducts or bronchioles. These may occur in several different lung diseases.^[1]

The term can refer to parts of the desquamated epithelium seen in biopsies from asthmatic patients.^[2] They are named after German physician Heinrich Curschmann (1846-1910). They are often seen in association with creola bodies and Charcot-Leyden crystals.

References

↑ Cenci M, Giovagnoli MR, Alderisio M, Vecchione A (November 1998). "Curschmann's spirals in sputum of subjects exposed daily to urban environmental pollution". Diagn. Cytopathol. 19 (5): 349–51. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1097-0339(199811)19:5<349::AID-DC7>3.0.CO;2-7. PMID 9812228.
↑ "Curschmann's spiral in sputum from asthma patient". Retrieved 2008-11-25.

Eponymous medical signs for respiratory system

Respiratory system

Obstructive lung disease	COPD Hoover's sign asthma Curschmann's spirals Charcot–Leyden crystals chronic bronchitis Reid index

Restrictive lung disease	sarcoidosis Kveim test

Dyspnea	Biot's respiration Cheyne–Stokes respiration Kussmaul breathing

Other/general	clubbing Schamroth's window test Hippocratic fingers pulmonary embolism Hampton hump Westermark sign pulmonary edema Kerley lines Hamman's sign Golden S sign

Referred

spleen
- Kehr's sign

Index of the respiratory system

Description	Anatomy nose larynx lower thorax Physiology Development

Disease	Congenital Neoplasms and cancer Chest trauma Infection common cold pneumonia tuberculosis Other Symptoms and signs eponymous

Treatment	Procedures mechanical ventilation Drugs nasal throat obstructive airway diseases cough and cold histaminergics pulmonary arterial hypertension other Surgery