[Reevaluation of cytological smears in patients with cervical cancer. Regional quality assurance program with the cooperation of the Austrian Society for Cytology, the Carinthian Medical Association and the Carinthian Ministry of Health].

Background And Methods: To evaluate the reasons for the occurrence of invasive cervical cancer in Carinthia despite cytological screening, all 132 patients diagnosed with cervical cancer in the years 2000-2002 were recorded and all gynecological cytological smears made within the 5 years prior to the diagnosis of cancer were reevaluated.

Results: Within the 5 years prior to diagnosis, no gynaecological cytological smear was found for 50% of the patients diagnosed with cervical cancer in the years 2000-2002. In the year 2002, a total of 53 patients were reported to have cervical cancer and 78 smears were reevaluated.

Is preoperative percutaneous fine-needle aspiration cytology of intrathoracic lesions advisable in resectable patients?

Objective: The study addresses the clinical significance of percutaneous fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology in patients with intrathoracic lesions.

Methods: The diagnoses based on cytology in 101 patients (73 male, 28 female; age 21-78 years) with intrathoracic lesions were compared with a definitive histological diagnosis obtained by thoracotomy. Sixty-one lesions were localized in the right and 31 in the left lung, 5 bilaterally and 4 paramediastinally (maximum diameters: 0.

[Cytology of the urinary tract. A demonstration of indications and cytologic findings in various disease pictures].

Urinary cytology is of great clinical use in unclear cases of haematocyturia, as a screening method for patients with high risk, as a follow-up control after transurethral resection and local cytostatic therapy, as well as for the grading of a transitional cell carcinoma. Primary urothelial tumors of the bladder can be distinguished cytologically up to six months earlier than with the cytoscope, especially in carcinoma in situ. A positive finding during therapy with cytostatic agents indicates a recurrence.

[Percutaneous transthoracic fine-needle biopsy of the lung. Indications, results and complications in 578 punctures].

578 fine-needle biopsies of lung lesions in 319 patients were performed. This investigation was mainly done by means of Rotex-biopsy instruments. The procedure proved to be efficient in 84%, complicated in 19,7% of the patients.