Diagnosis of gastric cancer on endobiopsies using the WHO classification

Gastric cancer (GC), one of the most frequent malignancies can be early detected on endobiopsies. Our aim was to evaluate histologically the GC on endobiopsies, using WHO 2000 and Lauren classifications. The study included 2424 gastric endobiopsies, routine processed; sections stained with HE, Giemsa, PAS and AB. GC was diagnosed in 451 cases (19%), mostly in men (311 cases--69%). The highest incidence was in 60-69 year-old aged patients (34%). Using Lauren classification, 279 cases were included in diffuse type (62%), 167 intestinal-type (37%) and 5 (1%) mixed type. Each of these three types were also histologically analyzed considering the WHO classification. We pointed out that GC can be diagnosed histologically on endobiopsy specimens, although it is difficult to diagnose the GC--mixt type, due to reduced size of endobiopsies. Lauren classification (including the two major types: diffuse and intestinal) is very useful, especially if correlated with histological criteria of WHO classification.