Two hundred seventy cases, with a total of 359 gastric samples, were reviewed. Fifteen cases of linitis plastica (diffuse, infiltrating, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma) and 25 cases of other types of gastric cancer were identified. Four false-negative cases in the limits plastica group and nine false positives in the other group were studied. The sensitivity of cytologic evaluation in limits plastica was 73.3% and in other groups was 98%. Predictive value of positive results in linitis plastica was 100% but in the other group was 72.7%. The reasons for these findings are discussed.