The presence of anthracotic pigment (carbon) in pleural fluid cytologic samples is unusual and to date has only been reported in individuals who are crack (freebase cocaine) smokers. We report the cytologic finding of carbon-laden macrophages in pleural fluid unrelated to crack abuse.
Division of Cytopathology, Department of Pathology, Baystate Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, Massachusetts 01199, USA. lpantanowitz@hotmail.com