Abstract: A method of obtaining actual tumor cells from remote, previously inaccessible anatomical locations and apparatus for carrying out said method, which includes a miniature cell-scraping rasp of an extremely small size which was previously unavailable and which is particularly adapted to be passed into the far reaches of inaccessible anatomic organs. The method and the rasp are particularly adaptable to abrade the epithelium of ductal areas and produce exfoliation of cells and facilitate collections of the cells for cytologic diagnosis.