A retrospective study evaluated the clinical value of subtyping gastric intestinal metaplasia into complete, incomplete, or mixed categories. Gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) is a precursor lesion in the gastric carcinogenesis sequence and has been reported in prior research as a potential risk factor for gastric dysplasia and adenocarcinoma. Published in Pathology – Research and Practice, the researchers analyzed whether histologic subtyping adds prognostic information in routine practice.
Archived pathology data from 206 gastric biopsy cases were reviewed, including 52 negative controls, 56 complete GIM, 54 incomplete GIM, and 44 mixed GIM. Histologic slides were reassessed to confirm subtype classification and to identify additional pathological features. Clinical data were obtained from medical records. Multiple regression and analysis of variance were used for statistical comparisons. The mean follow-up period was 52.2 months.
Most GIM cases were in the antrum. During follow-up, no patients, including those who underwent systematic mapping biopsies, developed gastric dysplasia or adenocarcinoma. Helicobacter pylori was significantly associated with all GIM subtypes as well as with the extent of mucosal involvement. The prevalence of H. pylori infection was 40 percent in this cohort, higher than national estimates. The analysis showed no relationship between gastric intestinal metaplasia and smoking, alcohol use, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or proton pump inhibitors. A possible association with hypertension was observed, though it did not reach statistical significance, and no associations were identified with diabetes mellitus or hyperlipidemia. A borderline association was observed with hypertension.
Newsletters
Receive the latest pathologist news, personalities, education, and career development – weekly to your inbox.
