[Increasing importance of cytological diagnostics in the Netherlands]

Cytological diagnosis has important practical clinical value, as shown by the observation that 54% of all diagnostic activities in pathology laboratories consist of cytological investigations. New impulses are, however, required to ensure ongoing developments. For example, from a scientific point of view, there appears to be little evidence-based information. A shift from case reports to systematic evaluation and from descriptive to prescriptive research is needed. The discipline of cytological diagnostics requires greater academic interest, and better guidance and structuring.