Cytologic diagnosis of intravenous talc granulomatosis by fine needle aspiration biopsy. A case report.

A fine needle aspiration specimen from the right lung of a 44-year-old former drug addict was submitted for cytologic evaluation. The specimen consisted of numerous mononucleate and multinucleate macrophages containing aggregates of silicate crystals, as seen by light microscopic examination using a polarizing filter. The background of the slides included fibroblasts, lymphocytes and other inflammatory cells. The finding within foreign-body giant cells of large groups of strongly birefringent, platelike crystals varying widely in size led to the conclusive cytologic diagnosis of intravenous talc granulomatosis.