Advances in intraluminal exfoliative cytology of gastric cancer. oncologic implication of the sixth metastatic route (Metastasis VI)
Historically, analysis of intragastric exfoliative cytology (IEC) of gastric cancer (GC) was used with diagnostic intent only. With the successful advent of endoscopic biopsy, the rate of detection of GC has improved worldwide and, as a consequence, IEC has been progressively abandoned. Today, however, there is a renewed interest in this field of research as witnessed by several pertinent publications. As discussed in this review, in fact, currently the importance of analyzing IEC in patients with early and advanced GC seems to reside in its clinicopathological and prognostic significance.