INTRAOPERATIVE IMPRINT CYTOLOGY ‎

Abstract

A prospective study was conducted on 60 specimens; 33 breast lumps and 27 lymph nodes, to assess the value of ‎intraoperative imprint cytology as an aid in surgical decision especially in the absence of the facility of frozen ‎section examination. Imprint cytological examinations were done intraoperatively by a single pathologist. The ‎results were ready after a period of 15-25 minutes. In all 60 specimens, 50 (83%) were correctly diagnosed, 8 were ‎diagnosed as suspicious of malignancy and 2 were misdiagnosed.‎ The sensitivity was 97%, the specificity was 94.4% and the accuracy rate was 96.1%. We concluded that imprint ‎cytology is a very simple technique and it remains a useful and cost effective tool, can aid in the surgical decision.‎