An Endoscopic Recognition of the Atrophic Border and its Significance in Chronic Gastritis

Summary

The endoscopic atrophic border is a boundary between the pyloric and fundic gland territories, which is endoscopically recognized by discriminating differences in color and height of the gastric mucosa. The existence of superficial gastritis might exaggerate the color and niveau differences, thus making it much easier to recognize the atrophic border. And also, according to the results of precise biopsy taken perpendicularly across the endoscopic atrophic border, it might be the boundary of histological atrophy and non-atrophy. In other words, the endoscopic atrophic border might be the boundary both of gland type and of atrophy. As a supplemental approach, a selective application of congo red method was endoscopically performed, which suggests that this might be a physiological border as well. Additionally, a classification of the atrophic pattern was attempted according to the location of the endoscopic atrophic border in the stomach, which revealed a close relationship with gastric analysis.

Key-Words

Atrophic border - pyloric and fundic gland area - congo red method - endoscopic biopsy - gastric analysis

1 Research fellow. The Third Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo University, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

2 Professor, The Institute of Gastroenterology, Tokyo Women's Medical College, Kawadacho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.