Intestinal metaplasia in the stomach and its correlation with gastric carcinoma: a study at Asir central hospital

ABSTRACT

Several studies have indicated a markedly high incidence of gastric cancer in different regions of Saudi Arabia. None of the studies, however, has specified the histologic type of gastric cancer or the existence of precursor lesions in the mucosa of the stomach. Intestinal metaplasia is considered to be a precursor lesion of gastric carcinoma. We studied endoscopic biopsy specimens from 26 cases of gastric carcinoma and 50 cases of chronic gastritis. Intestinal metaplasia was observed in 20 cases of gastric carcinoma and 12 of chronic gastritis. Of 26 gastric carcinomas, 24 were of intestinal type and two diffuse type. A downward time trend in the incidence of intestinal metaplasia has been associated with a decline in the incidence of gastric cancer. Future studies will be able to show whether or not such a downward trend also exists in this region