Cytologic findings of fine needle aspirates in chronic prostatitis

Cytologic studies in patients with prostatic infection, primarily those with chronic prostatitis, were conducted on samples obtained by the fine needle aspiration method. Infiltration of inflammatory cells such as polymorphonuclear leukocytes and macrophages was observed to a greater extent in patients with chronic bacterial prostatitis as compared to those with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis or prostatodynia. The pathogen was isolated in only one out of 28 patients with chronic bacterial prostatitis. We concluded that fine needle biopsy is useful for assessing patients with prostatic inflammation, but not for detecting microorganisms because of focal colonization of the organisms in the glands.