title: Fine needle aspiration of subcutaneous masses caused by Aspergillus: a report of 2 cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fine needle aspiration biopsy is a well-established method for dijfrrentiation of infective from neoplastic lesions. Varions infective agents, such as mycobacteria, leishmaniasis and microfaria can be diagnosed from aspirates, but there are few case reports on fungal infections in aspirates. Cytologic diagnosis of Aspergillus has occasionally occurred on sputum, pulmonary samples, vaginal secretions, endometrial washings and maxillary sinus specimens. One case of hepatic and subcutaneous masses was diagnosed as Aspergillus by fine needle aspiration and confirmed by culture and histology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two cases of subcutaneous aspergillosis were diagnosed by fine needle aspiration and confirmed by culture and histology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fine needle aspiration cytology is a rapid, sensitive and important method of diagnosing Aspergillus and provides a rapid diagnosis, which may be life saving in an immunocompromised patient.
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. geramib@sums.ac.ir
authors.forename: Bita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Geramizadeh
authors.forename: Parastoo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kheirandish
authors.forename: Payam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fatheezadeh
authors.forename: Ramin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jannesar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000150:complications; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity