[Type 1 carcinoids and ECL-cell hyperplasia of the gastric mucosa]

Carcinoids develop from neuroendocrine cells. These cells share the same origin from ancestor stem cells in the regenerative zone of the gut. There are a few types of neuroendocrine cells in the stomach, mainly: G cells (antrum), D cells (corpus and antrum), ECL cells (corpus and fundus), D1 cells, EC cells, P cells and X cells. Each type of the endocrine cell is able to a tumor formation, but the gastric carcinoids are most likely to derive from ECL cells. The dominant type of cells of the corpus and fundus mucosa are the ECL cells. They constitute up to 30-40% of the neuroendocrine cells of the stomach and release histamine which is responsible for parietal cells stimulation. Hypergastrinemia predisposes ECL cells to proliferation. There is a continuity of changes ranging from simple hyperplasia to ECL cells carcinoids (often multiple). Among three types of gastric carcinoids, type three is aggressive and highly malignant, while type one is the most common but of low malignant potential. This publication presents 7 patients with extensive ECL cells hyperplasia and type 1 gastric carcinoids. The endocrine cells and carcinoids were visualized with the immunohistochemical reaction to chromogranin A. Prolonged, lasting several years observations of some of the patients under study confirm the indolent character of the disease. Individual, type-adapted, conservative treatment is sufficient.