Argentaffin cells in adenoma of the stomach

The incidence of argentaffin cells in gastric adenoma was investigated using 108 tumors obtained from 75 stomachs resected surgically. Argentaffin cells were found in 46 (42.6%) of these 108 adenomas. In 19 of the 46, the average number of argentaffin cells to 1 mm2 was larger than that in the foci of nonneoplastic intestinal metaplasia. The incidence of these cells was in approximately inverse proportion to the grade of epithelial atypicality in the adenoma. The occurrence of argentaffin cells was compared to the occurrence of Paneth and goblet cells in the adenoma. A positive statistical correlation was found between the incidence of argentaffin cells and that of Paneth cells. These differentiated cells are supposed to be integral elements of the adenomas, arising by divergent differentiation of primitive adenoma cells.