The diagnostic significance of Russell bodies in endoscopic gastric biopsies

The incidence of cells containing so-called Russell bodies in 315 benign single gastric biopsies taken from stomachs with proven carcinoma, but outside the carcinomatous area and 786 biopsies taken from stomachs without carcinoma were compared. The Russell body containing cells were counted in a fixed area and on the basis of the counting each biopsy was classified in one of four groups: Russell body containing cells absent or present in a number of 1-5, 6-10 or more than 10 in the area. The results showed that endoscopic biopsy examinations containing one single benign biopsy with more than 5 Russell body containing cells in the carcinoma. If half or more than half of the biopsies in the examination contained 1-5 Russell body containing cells significant differences were also found. The sensitivity of such examinations was low but their predictive values (PVpos) varied from 46 per cent to 95 per cent, meaning that such examinations may be of importance for the diagnosis of gastric cancer.