Fine needle aspiration biopsy cytology (FNA) is an important diagnostic tool in the management of thyroid nodule. Especially, papillary carcinoma of the thyroid has distinct morphologic features that allow a definite cytologic diagnosis with high degree of accuracy. We examined the characteristic cytologic features of 57 cases of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid, and their frequency and diagnostic significance were evaluated. The results obtained are summerized as follows; 1. In pattern of cellular arrangement, papillary structure with or without stroma is predominant feature (96%). 2. In individual cell morphology, grooved nuclei (95%), intranuclear cytoplasmic invagination (89%) and nuclear lobulation (74%) are most frequent and important cytologic findings. 3. Chromatin pattern is usually fine. Coarse chromatin is infrequent finding (37%). Nucleoli are inconspicuous. Cytoplasm us plump and distinctly eosinophilic. 4. Psammoma bodies are identified only in 4 cases (7%), but they are considered as helpful diagnostic features. 5. There are other associated findings including multinucleated giant cells (51%), macrophages (37%) and cystic degeneration (16%).