In order to improve the diagnosis of submucosal gastric malignancies, a new method of endoscopic fine-needle aspiration cytology was evaluated. The method is compared with conventional forceps biospy and brush cytology, and technical problems are discussed. It is concluded that endoscopic fine-needle aspiration cytology is a simple and safe procedure, but further development of the method and more clinical experience are required before the diagnostic capability of the method can be established.