Serum pepsinogen levels in gastric cancer patients and their relationship with Helicobacter pylori infection: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to study the serum pepsinogen levels in gastric cancer patients in our population in relation to histology and the presence of Helicobacter pylori. METHODS: Forty-six patients with gastric cancer and 70 controls were studied prospectively in a 1-year period. Serum levels of pepsinogen I (PG I), pepsinogen II (PG II), and gastrin were measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: The mean PG I levels for cancer patients and controls were 83.5 microg/l and 60.9 microg/l, respectively (P = 0.03), the mean PG II levels were 27.2 microg/l and 12.1 microg/l respectively (P < 0.0001). The PG I/II ratio was significantly lower in cancer patients (P = 0.04) and in those with Helicobacter infection. Serum pepsinogen levels were not affected by any pathological characteristics. Histology showed that the prevalence of chronic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, and gastric atrophy was 97%, 56%, and 15%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of gastric atrophy is low in our population, and serum pepsinogen measurement is not useful as a screening tool for gastric cancer in this population.

[Multicentric intestinal angiosarcoma. Report on a case]. / Angiosarcome multicentrique intestinal. A propos d'un cas.

The authors describe the case of a seventy-four year old female with no past medical history, in whom a duodenal angiosarcoma was found during investigation for anemia. Despite adequate surgical excision, hemorrhage persisted and the patient died. Autopsy disclosed multiple angiosarcomatous tumours in the colon and pulmonary micrometastases. Angiosarcoma is a rare tumour in the digestive tract. Multiple tumors occur but are often difficult to detect. In the present case, radiologican and angiographic investigations did not confirm the diagnosis, which was made on endoscopic and surgical findings and substantiated by histological examination of the surgical specimen.