[The relationship between intestinal metaplasia and gastric carcinoma: a study of 722 biopsies]

Intestinal metaplasia has been shown by many investigators to be a premalignant state. Considering this fact, 722 gastric biopsies were studied, a 24% of association was found between gastric carcinoma and intestinal metaplasia and 27% of the cases with metaplasia were found in "apparently normal" or with benign stomach lesions. The group most affected was males over 61 years. Control endoscopy and biopsy was practiced in 17 patients with previously diagnosed intestinal metaplasia and in 11.7% gastric carcinoma with metaplasia was found. Therefore, it cannot be concluded that intestinal metaplasia is a premalignant condition, but its frequent association with gastric adenocarcinoma advises periodical examination by endoscopy in every patient over 40 years in which it is determined by biopsy.