Treating physicians and their patients depend upon accurate and reliable diagnoses of neoplastic and non-neoplastic processes in cytologic material harvested by minimally invasive procedures. While cytomorphology provides important diagnostic information, immunocytochemical (ICC) stains performed in cytologic material add crucial information. In fact, the use of appropriate antibodies for particular molecules complements cellular aspects with molecular information improving the diagnostic accuracy of cytology. Most immunoreactions applied to cytology samples derive from known immunohistochemical methods. However, critical differences exist between tests performed on tissue samples and those carried out on cytologic samples. Understanding these differences is fundamental for the correct execution and interpretation of ICC stains.  provides current information for a judicious use of conventional and molecular ICC markers performed in cytologic samples to help in the cost-effective diagnosis of superficial and deep-seated masses. By providing both an eminently practical information for appropriate technical preparation of cytologic samples and a systematic exposure of the immunophenotypic and biomolecular characteristics of normal and pathological cells, the reported morphological-molecular findings highlight the characteristics of different lesions that are useful for the practical solution of a particular differential diagnosis. Chapters include description of the cytomorphology followed by a practical ICC staining pattern for each entity. Cytologic materials include serous effusions, exfoliative cytology, fine needle aspiration cytology of superficial and deep-seated masses, and squash preparation from central nervous system masses.  weiterlesen