Abstract:

Background/aim: It is reported that the incidence of adenocarcinoma of the cardia and esophagus has increased in western countries simultaneously with a decrease in Helicobacter pylori (Hp) prevalence. In Turkey, Hp positivity is still above 75% in the adult population. In patients without classic Barrett's esophagus, adenocarcinomas of the gastroesophageal junction appear to arise from foci of intestinal metaplasia (IM) at the squamocolumnar junction (SCJ), which occur in 9-36% of patients undergoing gastroscopy. IM is assumed to be a consequence of chronic inflammation. Like inflammation at the SCJ, IM at the cardia has also been associated either with Hp gastritis or with gastroesophageal reflux disease. The aim of this study was detection of IM and inflammation at SCJ in a population with high Hp positivity, by multiple biopsy specimens, and definition of probable correlations. Materials and methods: In this study, endoscopic biopsy specimens were taken from 38 patients (30 male, 8 female) who presented for esophagogastroduodenoscopy (from gastric fundus, corpus, antrum, second portion of duodenum, SCJ, esophagus). Biopsy specimens were examined by one pathologist for inflammation, activity, and presence of atrophy and gastric-cardiac IM. Results: Chronic Hp gastritis was detected in 29 of 36 patients with gastritis; histologic esophagitis in 28 of 38 patients (73.5%); inflammation at SCJ in 37 of 38 patients (97%); and IM at SCJ in 5 of 38 patients (13%)(4 complete, 1 incomplete). A significant correlation was detected between inflammation and activity in fundus, corpus and antrum (p

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