Background: Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is routinely being used for the diagnosis of various neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions and for both superficial and deep seated lesions. Although FNAC has been used extensively in the diagnosis of head and neck masses, its use is underutilized as far as intraoral lesions are concerned. AIM: To assess the role of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology and Imprint Cytology in the diagnosis of common general surgical tumors. Methods: A prospective study of 147 patients of any age group, was carried out in Department of surgery in Tirunelveli medical college. Patients who are all presenting with general surgical tumors were assessed regardless of the age, size of the tumor and location of the tumor. Results: In the comparative study of FNAC and Imprint cytology with histopathology, the diagnostic accuracy to benign and malignant tumors was assessed. Out of the total 147 cases, 80 cases were benign and 67 were malignant. The diagnostic accuracy for imprint cytology amounts to 95% for benign and 93% for malignant lesions and for FNAC it is 81% and 79% for benign and malignant respectively. Conclusion: FNAC and Imprint cytology are rapid and reliable diagnostic indicators and helps to decide the mode of treatment. FNAC aids in arriving at a definite pre-operative diagnosis for tumors eliminating the need for open biopsy, whereas imprint cytology has a tremendous impact in the intraoperative diagnosis and planning especially in centers where frozen section is not available.