Fine needle aspiration cytology of foreign bodies presenting as cystic abdominal masses. A report of three cases.
BACKGROUND
Foreign body material (gauze sponges) presented as cystic abdominal masses and were confused with malignant tumors.


METHODS
Two females and one male presented with abdominal masses. They had undergone laparotomy 5-12 years earlier. Clinically the masses were diagnosed as benign or malignant cystic lesions. Fine needle aspiration revealed necrotic material, hemosiderin-laden macrophages, foreign body giant cells, cholesterol crystals and many fragments of birefringent material. The possibility of malignancy was ruled out. Cut sections of the excised cystic lesions revealed gauze sponges surrounded by a thick, fibrotic wall.


CONCLUSIONS
This report underscores the usefulness of fine needle aspiration in ruling out malignancy.
Kumar
P V
PV
Departments of Pathology, Radiology, Surgery and Urology, Shiraz Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Shafei
A
A
Geramizadeh
B
B
Shahim-ain
A
A
Rasekhi
A
A
Talei
A R
AR
Shaleri
S
S
D000005:Abdomen; D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003560:Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006099:Granuloma / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015503:Surgical Sponges / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed