Role of cytology in evaluation of infectious lesions of skin: A Cyto- histopathological correlation.

Aim : To evaluate the efficacy and diagnostic accuracy of various cytological techniques in evaluation of infectious lesions of skin. Materials and methods: Fine needle aspiration and slit skin of lesions with clinical suspicion of infectious lesions of skin were done. Giemsa stainining of cytology smears. Biopsy of lesions where possible.  Result: 34 patients (indoor/outdoor) with clinical diagnosis of infectious skin lesions were subjected to cytological examination and biopsy was done in 32 of these cases. Aspiration was inadequate in 8 cases. Conclusion: Cytological examination is a very simple and useful modality, requires minimum equipments and can be performed in outpatient clinic. The procedure is safe, free from complications and is well tolerated by patients.