Background: The role of intestinal metaplasia (IM) as a precancerous lesion is not fully understood. Objetives: To analyze IM type and distribution in relationship with gastric carcinoma (GC) histotypes. Material and methods: 71 gastrectomy surgical specimens of gastrectomy were analyzed. Samples taken from the tumor and the mucosa (along the lesser and greater curvatures), were processed routinely and stained by HE and histochemical methods for IM classification. IM intensity, topography and type were correlated with the histological subtype of the tumor. Results: 42 (59%) intestinal-type GC (IGC), 17 (24%) diffuse-type (DGC) and 12 (17%) unclassified tumors were observed. CAG and IM were more marked in IGC than in DGC (p = 0,02; p = 0,004). Foci of IM types I, II and III were observed in 21 IGC (50%), whereas foci of IM types I and II were seen in 5/17 (29%) DGC. Type III IM was diagnosed in 21 IGC (50%) and 6 DGC (35%) (p = 0,04); in peritumoral areas type II IM was detected in 13/34 (38%) IGC and 3/10 (30%) DGC. Type III IM was directly related with the lesion's intensity (p = 0,005) and was observed predominantly in cases with moderate to marked IM. Conclusions: Type III IM may be considered a marker of IM intensity. Its presence in only 50% of IGC cases limits its role as a precancerous lesion and favors the hypothesis of several pathways in gastric carcinogenesis.
Stomach; Intestinal metaplasia; Gastric carcinoma; Precancerous lesion; Atrophic gastritis
