Lung cancer has emerged as the most common form of malignant disease and leading cause of cancer deaths in developed as well as in developing countries. In Kashmir, lung cancer is the second most common cancer with high mortality. Smoking remains the leading cause of lung cancer; other risk factors include air pollution, occupational exposures, radiation and genetic factors. Prompt and early diagnosis of lung cancer plays a pivotal role in early treatment, planning, management and outcome of patients. Although various investigations like computerized tomography (CT) scan are routinely adopted, imprint cytology has revolutionized and facilitated the diagnosis of tumors including those of breast, gastrointestinal tract, lymph nodes and bone marrow. Imprint cytology can also be used as an intraoperative tool for deciding the extent of surgery a patient has to undergo.