title: [The imprint cytology: a tool diagnosis in the operating room].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  since 1929, the imprint cytology has a great value in the transoperatory as a diagnostic tool and in some cases as an alternate method.
  
  
  METHODS
  during two years period, 416 transoperatory specimens and 384 frozen sections were performed in the Pathology and Cytopathology Department of the University Hospital, "Dr. José E. Gonzalez." Diagnoses were recorded and compared both methods with the final diagnosis given at definitive histological sections. The results were evaluated and p statistics were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  nine of 416 patients (2.2 %) were incorrectly diagnosed by cytology, and 8 of 384 (2.1 %) by frozen section. The diagnostic accuracy for the imprint cytology was 97.8 % and 97.9 % for frozen section. Six of the 416 cases (1.4 %) were misdiagnosed by imprints and frozen sections; the percentage success was 98.5 % using both methods together. The p was statistically significant (0.0005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the transoperatory cytology is a fast, easy and inexpensive. It provides morphological detail on intact cells and without the freezing artifacts, so its use as an adjunct to the frozen method is of great value.
authors: Servicio de Anatomía Patológica y Citopatología, Hospital Universitario "Dr. José Eleuterio González," Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico. bpositivo66@hotmail.com
authors: Gabriela Sofía
authors: GS
authors: Gómez-Macías
authors: Oralia
authors: O
authors: Barboza-Quintana
authors: Juan José
authors: JJ
authors: Segura-Luna
authors: Ivett
authors: I
authors: Miranda-Maldonado
authors: Álvaro
authors: Á
authors: Barbosa-Quintana
authors: Jesús
authors: J
authors: Ancer-Rodríguez
authors: Juan Pablo
authors: JP
authors: Flores-Gutiérrez
authors: Raquel
authors: R
authors: Garza-Guajardo
mesh_terms: D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D009873:Operating Rooms