Long-term follow up of patients with multiple gastric carcinoids associated with type A gastritis

Little is known about the natural course of multiple gastric carcinoids associated with type A gastritis. Between 1993 and 2003, we enrolled eight patients, diagnosed as having multiple gastric carcinoids associated with type A gastritis, in a follow-up program without surgical resection. In these patients, endoscopy showed multiple small polyps on the gastric body, with nonantral atrophic gastritis. Histologically, biopsy specimens obtained from the polyps revealed carcinoid tumors. The serum gastrin level was found to be very high in all patients, and testing for anti-parietal cell antibody was positive in seven. The mean follow-up was 5.8 years (range, 1.5-10.8 years). The levels of serum gastrin increased in all patients, but, endoscopically, the carcinoid tumors did not change in size. Neither hepatic nor lymphatic metastasis was detected on abdominal computed tomography (CT). These patients were free of the development or metastasis of carcinoids, in spite of their continuous hypergastrinemia. It was concluded that multiple gastric carcinoids associated with type A gastritis may be indolent.