[Clinical-endoscopic-histological correlations in gastric pathology. I]

We have conducted a blind cross-selectional study with 150 consecutive patients undergoing fibrogastroscopy and biopsy of the antral mucosa. The endoscopic sensitivity for the diagnosis of the several types of gastritis, is low (63%), although this technique is highly sensitive for other types of pathology. Consequently, we conclude that, in all endoscopic explorations, at least one biopsy of the antral mucosa must be done, given the anatomopathological definition of gastritis. In addition, the clinical use of this term should be restricted to the histologically demonstrated cases.