Cytopathology which is more appreciated in recent years is one of the valuable diagnostic methods. The aim of this study is to evaluate and stratify cytology specimens according to routes of retrieval, organ systems and general cytomorphologic diagnosis.

This study was carried out at Department of Pathology, Zonguldak Karaelmas University, Faculty of Medicine, from January 2003 to December 2005 retrospectively, by evaluating 9043 cytology specimens.

A total number of 9043 cytology specimen composed of exfoliative cytology (89.9%) and fine needle aspiration (10.1%) specimens. Eighty-four percent of exfoliative cytology material was from Gynecology and Obstetrics Department, whereas 63 percent of fine needle aspiration material was from Internal Medicine Department. The majority of fine-needle aspiration specimens were obtained from thyroid (63%), whereas the majority of exfoliative specimens came from cervico-vaginal smears (82.5%). The fine needle aspiration specimens were evaluated as malignant, suspicious of malignancy, benign and indeterminate, in 1.6%, 1.9%, 65.8% and 30.7% of the samples respectively, whereas the exfoliative cytology specimens were reported as malignant, suspicious of malignancy, benign and indeterminate in 0.7%, 0.8%, 92.1%, and 6.4% of the samples respectively.

Cytology specimens are mainly composed of exfoliative cytology specimens which are mostly cervico-vaginal smears. Thyroid is the most common sampled organ by fine needle aspiration. The high rate of inadequate diagnosis with this method can be associated with probably inadequate sampling.