Dear Colleagues and Friends,

We are delighted to welcome you to the 38^th European Congress of Cytology in Geneva. We have devised a blend of standard formats and subjects with some more unusual approaches that we hope you will find stimulating and enjoyable. The European Congress provides a unique opportunity to meet colleagues from many different horizons and backgrounds, exchange, compare and learn; it is also the ideal setting for exchanges between cytopathologists and cytotechnicians, between seniors and juniors, between the old hands and the less experienced, both during scientific presentations and at the networking events.

The programme encompasses state-of-the-art scientific presentations covering all fields of cytology; activities in other fields that are already an indispensable part of our work, such as flow cytometry and molecular biology; input from our clinician colleagues in various specialties; and the essential Proffered Papers and Poster sessions, that provide a glimpse of the future. Aspects such as laboratory organization, teaching and collaboration with lower-income countries will not be neglected either.

Geneva is a truly international city, home to many international organisations including the European headquarters of the United Nations, the Red Cross and CERN. In Geneva, you will be able to enjoy both the cosmopolitan pleasures of urban life, with our excellent museums, rich and varied cultural events and world-class gastronomy, and the quieter delights of the countryside, be it wine-tasting in a small village, a gentle cruise on Lake Geneva or a hike on a nearby mountain.

Come and join us in Geneva in September 2014, for an enriching, rewarding and truly special experience !

Jean-Claude Pache, MD PDOrganising Committee President	Prof. Lukas BubendorfScientific Committee President