"Going with the flow": a perspective on flow cytometry in gastroenterology.

In this perspective on the applications of flow cytometry in gastroenterology are described the use of flow cytometry in the study of normal physiology, in normal anatomy, and in premalignant and malignant conditions of the digestive tract. The basic principles and applications for cell counting, sorting, cell cycle analysis, and quantitation of cellular characteristics are addressed to emphasize the great potential and availability of flow cytometry.