Curschmann's spirals

Curschmann's spirals are a microscopic finding in the sputum of asthmatics.

They are spiral-shaped mucus plugs from subepithelial mucous gland ducts of bronchi.

They may occur in several different lung diseases[1] and may refer to parts of the desquamated epithelium seen in lavages from asthmatic patients.

[2] These microscopic casts are named after German physician Heinrich Curschmann (1846-1910).

They are elongated microscopic mucous casts from small bronchi and are often found in sputum samples from patients with bronchial asthma.