Fine needle aspiration cytology was performed on 121 occasions in 100 patients with various thoracic lesions. The investigation was performed chiefly with the help of straight and lateral chest skiagrams regardless of the size or depth of the lesion. The cellular yield was 87.6%. Positive diagnosis of malignancy could be made in 50 cases. The histopathological correlation in malignant cases was 80%. Non‐malignant cytology including neoplastic and inflammatory pathology was also found useful in patient management. This report highlights the versatile role of this procedure in arriving at a diagnosis and planning the treatment for malignant as well as non‐malignant thoracic disea