Fine needle aspiration cytology of granulomatous mastitis with special emphasis on microbiologic correlation.

Objective: To describe the cytomorphology of granulomatous mastitis (GM) and to evaluate the causative agents involved, proven on the basis of microbiologic culture results and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) studies.

Study Design: We retrospectively reviewed the inflammatory breast aspirates reported at King Abdul Aziz Specialist Hospital and Al Hada Armed Forces Hospital, Taif, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from January 2000 until March 2008. The pathology reports, clinical information, slides, microbiologic culture results and tuberculosis (TB)/PCR were reviewed.