[Cell kinetics in intestinal metaplasia and gastric carcinoma]

48 specimens of gastric mucosa, including those of normal mucosa, intestinal metaplasia, atypical hyperplasia and carcinoma, were studied with in vitro 3H-TdR double labeling autoradiographic technique. On the basis of cell kinetics, intestinal metaplasia might be divided into two types: Type A consisted of those cases in which the values of LI, Ts and Tc were approximately closer to those of normal mucosa. The labeling cells appeared in the lower two thirds of the intestinalized glands, including small intestinal type and the complete type of colonic intestinal metaplasia. In type B, the average values of LI were higher. Ts and Tc values approximated those found in carcinoma a. Type B consisted mostly of the incomplete type of colonic intestinal metaplasia. The above evidence suggests that type B intestinal metaplasia is precancerous.