Fine needle aspiration cytology of inflammatory pseudotumor of the lung (plasma cell granuloma). Report of four cases

The fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytologic findings in four cases of inflammatory pseudotumor of the lung are described. Histologic material was available for comparison in three of the four cases. FNA of these lesions usually yielded moderately to poorly cellular smears. The smears showed a mixture of chronic inflammatory cells and tissue fragments, without a predominance of plasma cells. Characteristic cytologic findings were not observed. The cytologic findings can be distinguished from those of other circumscribed benign and malignant lesions, however. The diagnosis of an inflammatory pseudotumor of the lung may be suggested by a combination of roentgenographic (a localized density) and FNA findings, which may justify a more conservative surgical approach.