Gastric Biopsy Shows Grayish-White Tissue – Does That Mean Stomach Cancer?

When a gastric biopsy reveals grayish-white tissue, it does not necessarily indicate stomach cancer. Immediately after the mucosal tissue is collected during an endoscopy, it appears reddish-orange in color. However, once the sample is placed into a formalin-containing vial for preservation, the tissue undergoes a chemical reaction that causes it to turn grayish-white.

Formalin fixation is a standard step in the biopsy process, as it prevents tissue decay and maintains cellular structure for accurate analysis. Once the sample reaches the pathology lab, it is processed through paraffin embedding and sliced into thin sections for microscopic examination.

The grayish-white appearance of the tissue alone is not diagnostic. It is a normal result of the preservation process. To determine whether cancer is present, the tissue must be stained and examined under a microscope. Only after this detailed evaluation can a diagnosis be made.

If cancerous cells are found, the pathology report may state gastric cancer, adenocarcinoma, signet ring cell carcinoma, or poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. These terms indicate a malignant change in the stomach lining. In contrast, a report simply describing “a small piece of grayish-white gastric biopsy tissue” does not suggest malignancy.

Accurate diagnosis relies on histopathological examination, not the visual appearance of the tissue after fixation. Patients are encouraged to wait for the full pathology report and consult with their physician for interpretation and next steps.