[Imprint cytodiagnosis of lymph node metastasis in resected lung cancer].

The cytological examination of lymph node imprints is a rapid and useful method for diagnosis of lymph node metastasis. We applied this technique for the diagnosis of regional lymph node metastasis of resected lung cancer, and compared its diagnostic value with histological examination. The accuracy rate of imprint cytology is 97.3%, and the sensitivity rate is 100%. We conclude that imprint cytology of lymph node for diagnosis of cancer metastasis is highly accurate and simple, and its diagnostic value may be equal to that of routine histological examination.