[The perspectives of upper GI tract diseases]

Recently, most of the upper GI tract diseases, peptic ulcer, chronic gastritis, gastric cancer as well as MALT lymphoma, have been explained by the infection of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). However, it is not evident whether or not gastric cancer is induced solely by the bacterial infection at this stage. On the other hand, it is reported that the eradication of H. pylori might evoke the reflux esophagitis as well as esophageal and fundic cancer. These important issues remain to be elucidated for the investigation of upper GI tract in the 21st century. The development of new endoscopic technology may be another promising field of upper GI tract.