Imprint Cytology

• Imprint cytology is a simple method for

preparing a surgical specimen for pathological
investigations.
• Fresh tissue sample sent to the pathologist
who processes it immediately.
• Cellular morphology and tissue diseases can
recognize.
 Procedure
• Biopsy specimen is pressed on a glass slide
while avoiding gliding. Then the slide is
stained with the haematoxylin and eosin stain
commonly called as H&E stain before it is
fixed with 95% ethyl alcohol for 5-6 seconds.
• Touch imprint cytology of core needle biopsy
specimens for the breast and quick stain
procedure for immediate diagnosis is given
below.
• Step 1: Mix May-Grunwald solution (2/3) and
methanol (1/3) and mix Giemsa stain solution
and distilled water at a ratio of 1:1
• Step 2: Cover the specimen slide with solution I
for 2 min
• Step 3: Rinse the slide with distilled water.
• Step 4: Cover the slide with solution II for 2 min
• Step 5: Rinse the slide with distilled water.
• Step 6: Cover every second slide with filtered
Mayer’s hemalum solution for a few seconds
and immediately rinse with 2% buffer solution.
Applications of imprint cytology;
•Determining the parathyroid tissue, the
sentinel lymph nodes and the adenomatous
goitre.
•Determining the surgical resection margins.
•Diagnosis of benign and malignant lesions.
•Provides good results without any difficulties in
basal carcinomas of the skin, sarcomas in
alveoli, metastatic tumors, salivary gland tumors
and ovarian cancers.
•In rapid diagnosis like the frozen section,
during surgery for intraoperative consultation.
Advantages
• Can be done even in underdeveloped
infrastructure and deficient trained technician.
• Can be analysis of an individual cells.
• Rapid results.
• Cheaper
• Can be commonly used.
• A precise diagnosis is received.
Disadvantages
• Cannot be analysed the depth of infiltration.
• Cannot be interpreted tumors.