[Value of Papanicolaou exfoliative cytology in diagnosis of cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract].

Exfoliative cytology of the pharynx and larynx is a valid tool in the diagnosis of tumours. It is useful in the follow-up of chronic epithelial lesions of these regions and after tumour therapy. Cytological findings in group "Pap III" demand careful follow-up possibly with biopsy. For all other groups a biopsy is only indicated if there is a strong clinical suspicion of a tumour in the individual case. The simple technique of exfoliative cytology makes it an important part of aftercare of patients with malignancy, especially squamous cell carcinoma of the pharynx and larynx. The validity of the method depends on the care with which the specimen is taken and on the experience of the investigator.