[Imprint cytology. Advantages and possibilities].

Imprint cytology is a special variation of applied cytology, which can be used for quite different purposes. In scientific research cytologic imprints are very apt for cytophotometric measurements of DNA contents in nuclei as well as for karyologic studies, for instance on the different distribution of chromatin in the nuclei of benign and malignant tumors. Furthermore, imprint cytology is of great importance in teaching and learning results of aspiration biopsies, as the cellular patterns obtained with both methods are looking identical and moreover every imprint can be compared with the corresponding histologic slide. Last but not least in diagnostic procedures cytologic imprints are very helpful as an adjuvant to frozen and paraffin sections: They set off also very discrete changes and make possible diagnostic statements in a shorter time than it is possible with histologic slides.