Gastric brushing cytology: an analysis of cells from benign and malignant ulcers.

A series of 12 normal, nine malignant, and three false positive gastric brushings were evaluated for a number of cytologic criteria; of these criteria, cell arrangement, presence of nuclear engulfment and signet ring cells, and N/C ratio proved to be the most reliable in differentiating benigh from malignant ulcers; it was concluded that use of these three characteristics could substantially reduce the number of false positive gastric brushing reports.