Table 1.

Point scoring system to classify quality of cytological aspirate

Criterion	Quantitative description		Point score
Background blood or clot	Large amount	Great compromise to diagnose Diagnosis possible	0
	Moderate amount Minimal	Diagnosis easy Specimen of textbook quality	1 2
Amount of cellular material	Minimal to absent Moderate Abundant	Diagnosis not possible Sufficient for cytodiagnosis Diagnosis possible	0 1 2
Degree of cellular degeneration	Marked Moderate Minimal	Diagnosis impossible Diagnosis possible Diagnosis easy	0 1 2
Degree of cellular trauma	Marked Moderate Minimal	Diagnosis impossible Diagnosis possible Diagnosis obvious	0 1 2
Retention of appropriate architecture	Minimal to absent	Non diagnostic	0
	Moderate	Some preservation of, e.g. follicle, papillae, acini, flat sheets, syncytia or single cell pattern	1
		Excellent architectural display closely reflecting histology; diagnosis obvious	2