Washing and direct vision brush cytology in the diagnosis of gastric carcinoma.

The diagnostic significance of direct vision brush cytology and simple washing cytology was studied in 3 series with gastric carcinoma verified at operation. Direct vision gastroscopic biopsy was performed in all patients. Both brush and washing cytology markedly increased the diagnostic reliability of gastroscopic biopsy. Wrong negative results (Papanicolau I-II) were found in 13% with brush cytology and in 34% with washing cytology. Direct comparison revealed that brush cytology was definitely superior to washing cytology in the diagnosis of gastric carcinoma. The results suggest a routine use of brush cytology in connection with gastroscopic biopsy.