The diagnostic significance of intestinal metaplasia in endoscopic gastric biopsies

The incidences of intestinal metaplasia in two groups of benign endoscopic biopsies taken from stomachs with malignant and benign lesions respectively were compared. 315 single biopsies were taken from stomachs with proven carcinoma, but outside the carcinomatous area. They were compared to 786 single biopsies taken from stomachs with proven benign lesions. Each single biopsy was placed in one of three groups: intestinal metaplasia absent, or making up less or more than 50 per cent of the epithelium in the biopsy. The results showed that single biopsies with intestinal metaplasia regardless of the extension of the metaplasia in the biopsy were found more often in stomachs with carcinoma than in stomachs with benign lesions but without any significant difference. If more than half of the benign biopsies taken during an examination demonstrated extensive grades of intestinal metaplasia a sligtly significant difference in favour of carcinomas was found.