AIM: To investigate the morphology o� lymph vessel capillaries in both human gastric carcinomas and their peritumoral tissues, as well as the relation o� this morphology to lymphatic metastasis. METHODS: The morphology and �ine distribution o� both lymph vessels and capillaries in and around the primary �oci o� gastric carcinoma were studied using the 5′Nase Alpase double staining method. The total amount o� opened vessels and the opening rate o� lymph vessels and capillaries were counted using

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... a light microscope (100 × magnification), and the maximal luminal area, perimeter and diameter were measured using an image analysis technique. RESULTS: Lymph vessels and capillaries displayed strong 5′Nasepositive staining (brown and dark brown), while blood vessels and capillaries revealed signi�icant Alpase activity (blue). There were many lymph vessels, capillaries and solid strip-like tissues �ound in the gastric carcinoma samples analyzed. The total amount o� lymphatics in the metastatic group (gastric carcinoma vs peritumoral tissue) and non-metastatic group was 26.9 ± 14.2 vs 10.4 ± 4.0, 11.4 ± 3.4 and 9.7 ± 3.2, P < 0.01, respectively. Their opening rates were 21.2 vs 47.5 and 40.4 vs 46.0, P < 0.01, respectively. Their maximal luminal areas were 1502.98 ± 1236.91 vs 5526.0.05, and their diameters were 28.80 ± 14.98 vs 59.39 ± 28.53; 25.37 ± 15.79 vs 46.22 ± 20.85; 59.39 ± 28.53 vs 46.22 ± 20.85, P < 0.05, respectively. In summary, the lymphatics �ound in gastric carcinoma samples �rom the metastatic group were significantly lower than those of the other groups. CONCLUSION: There are newly �ormed lymph capillaries �ound in gastric carcinoma. Dilation o� lymph capillaries may be related to edema �ound in peritumoral connective tissues. The observed lymph node metastases �rom gastric carcinoma occur through mature lymph capillaries that invade in and around primary gastric carcinoma �oci.