[Imprint cytology in the diagnosis of tumors of the thyroid].

We have correlated imprint cytology findings in thyroid tumors to the results of preoperative fine needle aspiration and operative specimen histology. Specificity of imprint cytology proved greater than that of fine needle aspiration cytology and topographic correlations were particularly helpful. Imprint cytology can improve the intraoperative histologic diagnosis. Because abundant cells are available, imprint thyroid cytology is ideal for teaching and training cytologists. Imprint cytology provides enough cells to perform special techniques, such as quantitative cytology, that are useful for the diagnosis of some tumor varieties (e.g. follicular tumors).