Three cases of GIST were diagnosed on guided fine needle aspiration cytology. Two cases showed groups and whorls of benign spindle cells with elongated, blunt ended nuclei, which were diagnosed as GIST (probably benign). One case showed more obvious pleomorphism, round nuclei and binucleation. This was diagnosed as GIST (probably borderline/ malignant). Although a tentative grading was communicated to the surgeon, it was made very clear that a confident grading cannot be given on cytology because this is based on size, presence of necrosis/haemorrhage and the mitotic count. Although a confident diagnosis of GIST can be made on cytology, we believe that grading should be left to histology.