Desquamated epithelium casts found in sputum are known as?

Curschmann's spirals are formed from desquamated epithelial cells that have been shed from the respiratory tract, particularly in conditions such as asthma. These spiral-shaped mucus casts indicate the presence of airway inflammation and hyperreactivity, commonly associated with asthma exacerbations. Their presence in sputum can serve as a marker for the inflammatory changes occurring within the bronchial passages.

Charcot-Leyden crystals, on the other hand, arise from the breakdown of eosinophils and are more characteristic of allergic bronchoconstriction, but they are not specifically the result of desquamation in the same way as Curschmann's spirals. Keratin plugs are typically associated with keratinization processes and are not representative of the epithelium in the bronchial tree. Bronchial casts refer more generally to any cast formed in the bronchial airways, which may not specifically represent the desquamated epithelium seen in asthmatic conditions.

Thus, identifying Curschmann's spirals in sputum is particularly relevant in the context of asthma and other similar respiratory conditions.