title: Aspiration cytology characterization of inflammatory masses.
abstract: Fine-needle aspiration biopsy smears are useful in the workup of patients with abscesses and inflammatory masses. We report 37 cases classified into three groups: group I, in which a causative organism was seen on the smear; group II, in which a causative organism was cultured from a smear where organisms were not seen microscopically, and group III, in which the organism was not seen or cultured, but the smear findings were useful in determining further workup.
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000473:pathology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013194:Staining and Labeling