[Gastric polyps]

Gastric polyps exist in a wide variety of types, most often benign. Endoscopic discovery of gastric polyps necessitates biopsies - not only of the lesion but also of the antral and fundic mucosa to determine the therapeutic strategy and subsequent surveillance. Fundic gland polyps are the most frequent type; they are asymptomatic with no malignant potential. They require neither treatment nor surveillance. Hyperplastic polyps, adenomas and tumors must be totally resected. Biopsies alone are insufficient to assess the extent of malignancy of adenomas and of hyperplastic polyps more than 5 mm in diameter. These polyps are associated with an elevated frequency of precancerous alterations of the gastric mucosa and consequently by an elevated risk of synchronous or metachronous cancer. Eradication of Helicobacter pylorus may reduce the risk of metachronous gastric cancer and recurrence after resection. Carcinoid tumors of the fundus most often occur in patients with hypergastrinemia during atrophic gastritis of autoimmune origin; they are not serious. The advantages and procedures for endoscopic surveillance of patients with a precancerous condition of the gastric mucosa have not yet been clearly established in populations with a low incidence of cancer.