Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the touch preparation (imprint) cytology method for obtaining rapid interpretations from core material obtained during abdominal percutaneous biopsy.
Subjects and methods: For 28 patients undergoing biopsy of abdominal masses, paired slides were prepared for rapid staining by use of smears of standard fine-needle aspirates and by use of a touch preparation of the core material obtained with a semiautomated biopsy gun. The slides were scored in comparison with the final cytopathologic and histopathologic diagnosis.
Results: Touch preparation slides were equivalent in diagnostic yield to fine-needle aspirate smears, demonstrating similar cellular features. Touch preparation slides revealed features of tumor architecture not present on smears.
Conclusion: Touch preparation cytology offers rapid diagnosis from a single core biopsy sample. Carefully performed, the touch preparation method preserves the core material for subsequent permanent fixation and sectioning.