[Gastric mucosal mast cells and precancerous states].

Mast cells of the gastric mucous membrane were assayed in 30 gastric cancer patients and in 190 patients with pretumor lesions of the stomach. For the control 208 patients were taken with functional gastric disturbances, chronic gastroduodenitis, of hypersthenic type, ulcerous disease of the duodenum and 30 practically healthy persons. It was stated that the development of chronic atrophic gastritis with the mucous membrane degeneration of intestinal type, a tendency to malignization of callous and persistently unhealed ulcers are preceded by degradation of mast cells, manifested in their reduction, considerable "rejuvenescence" and practically complete disappearance of mucopolysaccharide saturated mast cells. Analogous changes in mast cells were revealed in the mucous membrane of gastric cancer patients. It is suggested to use the morphometric criteria of mast cells as the criteria of pretumor lesions.