Role of rapid imprint cytology in the diagnosis of skin cancer and assessment of adequacy of excision.

Imprint cytotechnique was employed in 20 cases of maligant skin tumours (11 squamous cell carcinoma, 4 basal cell carcinoma and 5 malignant melanoma) to evaluate the reliability of the technique by comparing the results with histologic diagnosis. In ten cases margins of the excised tumours were also subjected to imprint and histopathologic studies to assess the clearance of malignancy. All the tumours were correctly diagnosed in imprint smears. Similarly 100% cytohistopathologic correlation was also obtained in the assessment of excisional margins of the tumours. The technique of imprint cytology may be employed for quick diagnosis of skin cancers and in assessment of clearance of surgical field during surgery.