Topography, morphology, and etiology of lymphocytic gastritis: a single institution experience

Lymphocytic gastritis (LG) is an uncommon reaction pattern of gastric injury characterized by intraepithelial lymphocytosis of the surface foveolar epithelium and chronic inflammation in the lamina propria. It most commonly occurs in association with gluten-sensitive enteropathy, Helicobacter pylori gastritis, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and microscopic colitis. While the topography of LG has been described in gluten-sensitive enteropathy and H. pylori infection, no definite morphologic features have been used to further subcategorize LG based on possible etiologies. Furthermore, new immunotherapy agents have been associated with lymphocytic infiltrate in the gastrointestinal tract, but their association with LG has not been reported. Cases of LG were collected from our institution in the period between August 2011 and September 2017. The topography of LG and morphologic features such as glandular microabscesses, intestinal metaplasia, lymphoid aggregates, surface vs pit distribution of lymphocytes, and number of intraepithelial lymphocytes per 100 epithelial cells were assessed for each case using the updated Sydney System where applicable. Twenty-seven cases of LG were identified in the recent 6-year period at our institution. Gluten-sensitive enteropathy is the main reported cause of LG followed by NSAID injury. Cases of LG associated with gluten-sensitive enteropathy are antral predominant, those associated with H. pylori are body predominant, and those occurring in the setting of NSAID injury show pangastritis. Glandular microabscesses are observed in all cases of LG associated with H. pylori, and not in the setting of GSE or NSAID injury. In addition, a case of LG associated with melanoma immunotherapy has been identified. Topography and morphology of lymphocytic gastritis may point to the cause of injury, allowing for proper treatment of the underlying disease.