[Taxonomic method in the differential diagnosis of stomach cancer types based on cytological data]

The results of computor classification of cytological materials were compared with those of cytomorphological analysis based on qualitative criteria to determine the possibility of using a taxonomical method (approximation method of statistical classification) in differential cytological diagnosis of gastric carcinoma. The materials examined included cytograms and biopsies obtained by gastrofibroscopy in 100 patients with gastric carcinoma. A program considering 28 morphometric parameters was used for computor treatment of the cytograms. Comparison of the results of computer classification (4 taxons) and cytomorphological analysis by qualitative criteria demonstrated their essential coincidence corresponding to the enteric, diffuse and anaplastic types of gastric carcinoma. Taxon I included 19 out of 28 cases of gastric carcinoma of the diffuse type, taxons II and III 48 tumors of the enteric type. The group of tumors of unspecified form distinguished by the cytomorphological analysis was distributed as follows: tumors for which no common opinion was reached (14) were distributed between taxons I and III; the tumors which could not be classified because of a low degree of differentiation were included into taxon IV. By this feature, cytograms of taxon IV tumors were designated as anaplastic gastric carcinoma. Computer classification of gastric carcinoma cytograms gave an objective and more orderly distribution of cytological objects than grouping by qualitative criteria.