Type 1 Gastric Carcinoid in the Indian Population and Its Association with Multifocal Gastric Atrophy

Recent studies have shown an increase in the incidence of gastric neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) (carcinoids). This may be attributable to the frequent employment of endoscopy in clinical practice and the increasing use of proton pump inhibitors. From the literature that is available, it is interesting to note that the profile of patients with gastric carcinoids is different in the Asian population when compared to the western societies. As limited data is available from India, we evaluated retrospectively the clinical profile and pathology of gastric carcinoids presenting to our hospital.

A total of 31 patients with gastric carcinoids who presented to our institution from 2006 till 2013 were included in this study. The clinical data were obtained from the case files and the histopathology slides were reviewed.

Gastric carcinoids constituted about 32% of all gastrointestinal (GI) NETs and were second only to duodenal carcinoids in frequency. Men were more commonly affected (74%) and the majority were of type 1 (90%). Multifocal gastric atrophy with intestinal metaplasia was additional features seen in the majority of cases with type 1 carcinoids.

This study, one of the largest series reported from India, shows that the frequency and profile of gastric carcinoids is different in this population when compared to the west. It also raises the possibility that Helicobacter pylori induced multifocal gastric atrophy might be a triggering factor for the most common type 1 gastric carcinoid rather than autoimmune gastritis.

Eradication of H.pylori may be a potential preventive strategy for the occurrence of gastric carcinoids.

Ananthamurthy A, Correa M, Patil M. Type 1 Gastric Carcinoid in the Indian Population and Its Association with Multifocal Gastric Atrophy. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2016;6(2):106-110.