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After the pioneering work by Ploton et al. [1] silver staining of nucleolar organizer regions (AgNOR) has been introduced into tumour pathology as a proliferation marker which is closely related to the rapidity of cell cycle [2]. Owing to wet autoclave pretreatment introduced by Öfner et al. [3] AgNOR analysis has now widely been standardized in tissue sections [4]. In cytological specimens, however, an internationally accepted standardization of this method is still missing. Since AgNOR analysis is of value in diagnostic decision making particularly in effusion cytology [5,6] a consensus on AgNOR evaluation in cytopathology is urgently needed. Therefore, during the 6th Congress of the European Society of Analytical Cellular Pathology (ESACP), April 10th in Heidelberg, Germany, a joint meeting took place of the newly founded “ESACPTask Force on Standardization of AgNOR Analysis in Diagnostic Cytopathology” together with the “Committee on AgNOR Quantification” within the European Society of Pathology (ESP). 23 participants, revealing their experiences and interests in the method, attended and discussed the draft of a consensus paper, submitted by A. Böcking, Düsseldorf and J. Rüschoff, Kassel. Based on this paper the following aspects of the method have been discussed: (1) biological background, (2) indications and aims, (3) types of materials, (4) fixation, (5) staining, (6) quantitative evaluation, (7) combination with other parameters, (8) references. These chapters were finally delegated for review and elaboration of an updated and improved version to different specialists in the field. These colleagues agreed to newly edit the respective chapters for presentation and discussion during the 7th International Workshop on AgNOR Quantification in Innsbruck, Austria, on October 1–3rd 1999. It is the aim of this meeting to workout a proposal that will form the basis of a European Consensus on Standardized Diagnostic AgNOR-Quantification in Diagnostic Cytopathology. Every scientist and pathologist interested in participation and elaboration of this document is hereby invited to contact either A. Böcking in Düsseldorf (e-mail: [email protected]) or J. Rüschoff in Kassel (e-mail: [email protected]) for being involved.