Cytological diagnosis of leiomyogenic tumors of the stomach.

The cytological findings in 7 cases of leiomyoma and 4 cases of leiomyosarcoma can be summarized as follows: For differential diagnosis of these lesions, in comparison with leiomyoma cells, leiomyosarcoma cells were found to have 1) increased minor axis diameters of the nuclei and nuclear anisokaryosis, 2) dark nuclear staining, 3) enlarged and darkly stained chromocenters, 4) dark staining and thickening of the nuclear rim, 5) enlargement of nuclear clear areas, 6) increased numbers of oval nuclei and greater pleomorphism, 7) an increase in size and number of the nucleoli, 8) a strong tendency for cell atypism, such as anisocytosis and pleomorphism. In the light of these findings, it is believed that differential diagnosis is indeed possible.