Clinical cytology and primary health care of children and adults.

Clinical cytology is a diagnostic branch of medicine, best known by the Papa test in gynaecology. But, cytology can be applied in almost all fields of clinical medicine. Its advantages--high accuracy, simplicity, with little or no aggressiveness and low cost--are not used as widely as they could be. Medical practice, as well as medical research, and also medical education, are nowadays often directed at profitable use and not at the real benefit of the patient. Primary practitioners do not have enough chance to get acquainted with clinical cytology as a whole although they need true information, based on the cost-effectiveness and patient-benefit. A panel discussion on this subject was organised at the 4th Croatian Congress of Clinical Cytology, in Split, October 11-14, 2009 by the Croatian Society for Clinical Cytology-Croatian Medical Association, to inform primary practitioners about the possibilities of cytodiagnostics in the health care of children and adults. Indications for cytodiagnostics in infectious diseases (T. Jeren and A. Vince), haematology (I. Kardum-Skelin), pulmonology (S. Smojver-Jezek), thyroid diseases (A. Knezević-Obad), breast diseases (I. Kardum-Skelin), gastroenterology and urology (G. Kaić) were discussed, as well as technical procedures and the interpretation of the cytological findings. Moderator (Z. Znidarcić) opened the panel with presentation about the role of clinical cytology, particularly in the primary health care. The discussion finally pointed at the necessity of better communication between primary practitioners and cytologists. This review article presents contents of the panel discussion.