Risk of gastric carcinoma in patients with atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia

We read with interest the study of Whiting et al ( Gut2002;50:378–81 [OpenUrl][1][Abstract/FREE Full Text][2] ) in which they reported an 11% risk of development of malignancy among patients with atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia over a 10 year period. We agree with their conclusion that their findings should be further evaluated in larger studies, as confirmation of a high risk of malignancy would have important implications for clinical practice. We would however like to raise two issues. Firstly, in Whiting’s study, biopsies were taken only when there was macroscopic abnormality. These patients may … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DGut%26rft.stitle%253DGut%26rft.issn%253D0017-5749%26rft.aulast%253DWhiting%26rft.auinit1%253DJ%2BL%26rft.volume%253D50%26rft.issue%253D3%26rft.spage%253D378%26rft.epage%253D381%26rft.atitle%253DThe%2Blong%2Bterm%2Bresults%2Bof%2Bendoscopic%2Bsurveillance%2Bof%2Bpremalignant%2Bgastric%2Blesions%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1136%252Fgut.50.3.378%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F11839718%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/ijlink?linkType=ABST&journalCode=gutjnl&resid=50/3/378&atom=%2Fgutjnl%2F51%2F6%2F899.1.atom