Abstract

Background—An endoscopic procedure that uses a pH indicator called phenol red to assess Helicobacter pyloriinfected gastric mucosa has recently been developed. This test makes it possible to take biopsy specimens from H pylori infected areas.

Aim—This test was applied to patients with early gastric cancers to clarify the role of H pylori in gastric carcinogenesis.

Subjects—Sixty five patients with early gastric cancer (50 with differentiated adenocarcinoma and 15 with undifferentiated adenocarcinoma).

Methods—Patients with early gastric cancer underwent the endoscopic phenol red test before their operation. In this test, areas infected with H pylori can be observed as “coloured” areas where phenol red was turned from yellow to red.

Results—H pylori infection was significantly (p<0.001) more frequent in patients with differentiated adenocarcinomas than in those with undifferentiated adenocarcinomas. Differentiated adenocarcinomas were usually located in areas of mucosa infected with H pylori, but undifferentiated adenocarcinomas were frequently located in non-infected areas.

Conclusion—H pylori may be a strong risk factor for differentiated early gastric cancer.