Preoperative detection of a highly malignant type of early gastric carcinoma by cytophotometric DNA analysis.

A cytophotometric DNA analysis was made of gastroendoscopically biopsied materials of 43 patients with early gastric carcinoma and the data were compared with the DNA patterns of the resected specimens of these patients. The DNA patterns could be classified into two types, Low Ploidy and High ploidy, according to the degree of dispersion of the DNA value. The Ploidy to Ploidy coincidence of the DNA patterns between biopsied material and the resected specimen in the same lesion was noted in 93 per cent (39/42). The DNA patterns of the resected specimens were consistent in the majority of cases, regardless of the areas examined, center or periphery, and mucosa or submucosa of the same lesion. This study provides evidence that a highly malignant type of early gastric carcinoma, Pen A type, could be differentiated in gastroendoscopically biopsied materials by a cytophotometric DNA analysis.