Histologic Appearances of Endoscopic Gastric Mucosal Biopsies 10–20 Years After Partial Gastrectomy

Abstract
Fifty-six symptomatic patients, who had a partial gastrectomy 10-24 yr previously for benign disease, were examined by endoscopy and multiple mucosal biopsies. No patient had a completely normal gastric mucosa. Varying degrees of gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, foveolar hyperplasia and dysplasia were seen. Seventeen patients (30%) had extensive areas of dysplasia associated with acute or chronic inflammation. Severe dysplasia was detected in only 1 case. In 5 patients a diffuse type carcinoma of the gastric stump was found. While it is generally accepted that significant dysplasia (moderate or severe dysplasia) is premalignant, the degree of risk is unknown. This makes management of individual patients difficult.