Gastric angioendothelioma: a cytologic evaluation

A rare case of gastric angioendothelioma is presented in which diagnosis was performed preoperatively by an endoscopic technique. Exfoliative cytology using a brush under direct visual control revealed characteristics, which may well be diagnostic. Data which favor the diagnosis of angioendothelioma are: 1) elongated or polygnal cells with ill-defined cytoplasmic borders and small cytoplasmic vacuoles; 2) ovoid or rounded, nucleolated nuclei with fine chromatin network; 3) concentric disposition of the cells and, above all, the presence of small capillary-like structures.