Four cases of gastric carcinoma are described that are associated with an osteoclast-like giant cell (OGC) stromal component. The patients were all middle-aged men (range 53-63 years). Microscopically, the tumors were characterized by a bland cytologic appearance, and an either solid or cribriform pattern. Osteoclast-like giant cells were found adjacent to, or intimately intermixed with, the neoplastic cells in the primary gastric masses and in the lymph nodal metastases and were often associated with lymphocytes, histiocytes, and desmoplastic stroma. By immunohistochemistry, mononuclear cells and OGCs showed diffuse positivity for alpha-1-antichymotrypsin, alpha-1-antitrypsin, and CD68. Neoplastic cells that were positive for keratin and CEA, also showed reactivity for vimentin and the latent membrane protein of Epstein-Barr virus in one case. At follow-up, three patients had died at 13, 15, and 24 months after diagnosis, and one is still alive, without evidence of disease, after 120 months. This report describes a novel variant of gastric carcinoma with distinctive and histologic features.

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A study of 1,798 endometrial cytological samples, obtained with an "endocyte" (a disposable scraping device) and controlled in histology is presented. The method was tested for its usefulness in screening of precancerous lesions and preclinical cancer in 1,248 asymptomatic women and in the diagnosis of endometrial pathology in 550 symptomatic ones. The classification of hyperplasia into benign simplex and complex hyperplasia and atypical hyperplasia was followed; atypical hyperplasia, considered real intraepithelial neoplasia, was included in the positive cases. Histological verification was made chiefly on cell block in asymptomatic cytologically negative cases and either on curettage or hysterectomies in the others. The main endometrial cytological patterns are described. On the basis of findings, considering also endocyte's low cost, effectiveness, and ease of use, we think the method could be usefully employed in screening of endometrial cancer for an asymptomatic population. In symptomatic women, the use of histologic procedures is still preferable, and cytology cannot be considered a "first option" method.

Two cases of undifferentiated Burkitt's type malignant lymphoma with prevalent ovarian localization and observed in Italy are described histologically. Some brief considerations about the extra African diffusion of this lymphoma are pointed out.