Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia. Diagnosis by fine needle aspiration.

A case of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia in which the diagnosis was established by fine needle aspiration of the pulmonary lesions is presented. The cytologic findings included the presence of an inflammatory exudate consisting of 40% eosinophils, 25% neutrophils and the remaining cells comprised of lymphocytes, histiocytes, atypical columnar cells and cells probably of pneumocyte type II origin. Fine needle aspiration of pulmonary infiltrates can be quite helpful in confirming the diagnosis of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia and in differentiating it from other similar conditions including malignant lymphomas, if the clinical and radiologic appearances are also taken into consideration.