title: The value of touch imprint cytology of core needle biopsy in the diagnosis of spinal lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to investigate the contribution of the touch imprint cytology (TIC) of core needle biopsies (CNBs) to the diagnosis in spinal lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty cases with spinal CNB and TIC were included in the study. Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) and May-Grunwald- Giemsa (MGG) stained TIC slides and CNB of each case were blindly reevaluated by two pathologists. TIC and CNB findings were categorized as follows: 1-Nondiagnostic 2- Benign nonneoplastic 3- Benign neoplastic 4- Malignant 5-Malignant lesions that can be typed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TIC and CNBs were nondiagnostic in 62% and 45% of all cases, respectively. Malignancy could be identified and typed in 23% of imprint preparations and 35% of CNBs. When TIC and CNB diagnosis were compared, it was seen that diagnostic categories were just the same in 70% of the cases. In 37% of the cases benign and malignant groups could be distinguished. In 20% of the cases diagnostic categories were totally different.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The percentage of the nondiagnostic material in CNBs can reach up to 45%. The findings in TIC and CNBs were compatible with each other. We observed that TIC was diagnostic on its own especially in carcinoma metastasis and contributed to the assessment of cytologic detail in hematologic malignancies.
authors.affiliation: Ankara Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Department of Pathology, Ankara, Turkey. iremonur@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Irem Onur
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Paker
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sezak
authors.forename: Basak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Doganavsargil
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zileli
authors.forename: Fikri
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oztop
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D062005:Biopsy, Large-Core Needle; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods*; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents