Objective:To investigate the clinical value of liquid based cytology in the diagnosis of early non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods:From October 2018 to October 2019, 120 patients with early NSCLC who were confirmed diagnossis by histopathology were selected from Xixi Hospital of Hangzhou and Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province.All patients underwent fiberbronchoscopy.All the specimens were performed liquid-based cell wax block and HE staining.Two or more experienced histopathological doctors read the histological samples and then gave pathological reports.The cytological samples were first screened by the primary cytological diagnosis doctors, and then read by the deputy director or chief physician.The cytological pathological reports were given in combination with the clinical practice.Results:HE staining in liquid-based cytology showed that squamous cell carcinoma had many different sizes and shapes, single scattered, polygonal and round, even distribution of chromatin, and no obvious nucleolus.HE staining of adenocarcinoma in liquid-based cytology often gathered solid mass, rich cytoplasm, regular cell size, round nucleus, fine chromatin, and obvious nucleolus.HE staining of small cell cancer in liquid-based cytology mostly scattered, the cytoplasm was rare as naked nucleus, the nucleus was deeply stained, some were angular or short shuttle shaped.The sensitivity and specificity of liquid based cytology in the diagnosis of NSCLC were higher than those of traditional smear (χ 2=4.874, 4.512, all P<0.05). The positive rates of squamous cell carcinoma (72.88%) and adenocarcinoma (85.29%) in liquid based cytology were significantly higher than those in traditional cytology (54.24% and 61.76%) (χ 2=4.427, 6.031, all P<0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference in positive rate of small cell cancer between the two groups (χ 2=1.333, P>0.05). The positive rate of stage Ⅰa in liquid based cytology (86.48%) was higher than that in traditional cytology (64.86%), there was statistically significant difference (χ 2=4.698, P<0.05), but there were no statistically significant differences in the positive rates of stage Ⅰb and stage Ⅱa between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion:Liquid based cytology is of great value in the diagnosis of early NSCLC, which can increase the sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis.