title: The value of intraoperative imprint cytology in the assessment of lymph node status in gastric cancer surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The intraoperative assessment of lymph node status is important when performing limited surgery in gastric cancer patients. Currently available techniques for this assessment are frozen section, imprint cytology, and other molecular methods; most current studies use the frozen-section method. In the present study, we focused on the accuracy and feasibility of imprint cytology as a tool to assess lymph node status intraoperatively in gastric cancer surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between April 2001 and March 2003, we performed imprint cytology of the sentinel nodes in 260 consecutive patients. After review by an experienced cytopathologist, the sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy of the method were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The time required for the intraoperative imprint cytology was 8 min, and the sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy were 52.2%, 88.8%, and 73.8%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Imprint cytology could be a useful technique for the assessment of lymph node status intraoperatively if the sensitivity and specificity can be improved to an acceptable level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, 90 Chilam-dong, Jinju 660-702, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Joon
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyeong-Gon
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Soon-Tae
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sang-Gyeong
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Soon-Chan
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Eun-Jung
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Young-Tae
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.forename: Chi-Young
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Woo-Song
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Ha
mesh_terms: D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005629:Frozen Sections; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*